Peachtree Corners Magazine - June/July 2023

Where authentic Christian mission and academic excellence aren’t mutually exclusive

SCAN THE QR CODE

PEACHTREECORNERS

EDITORIAL

EXECUTIVE EDITOR & PUBLISHER RICO FIGLIOLINI

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

ARLINDA SMITH BROADY

EDITOR EMERITUS KATHY DEAN

EDITORIAL CONSULTANT RITA FIGLIOLINI

ADVERTISING

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

JULIE DAVIS

julie@livinginpeachtreecorners.com

THE TEAM & CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE

RICO FIGLIOLINI

Publisher & Executive Editor

Rico Figliolini is a creative director and social media strategist, three-time magazine publisher and podcast host. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York and is a political junky, sci-fi and anime fan, and avid reader and movie binger.

RITA FIGLIOLINI

Editorial Consultant

Rita Figliolini has lived in PTC for 23 years with her husband and life partner, Rico Figliolini. Proud mom of 3 — Jason, Kinsey and Jack. Former Managing Editor of the original Inside Gwinnett, she’s now Advisor to PTC Magazine. Telling stories is in our blood!

JULIE DAVIS

Account Executive

Julie Davis is an accomplished sales rep with over 20 years of experience in the telecom industry. When not working or spending time with friends and family, Julie can be found melting glass, as she is an avid fused glass artist.

HARRY J. PINKNEY, JR

Graphic Designer

Harry J. Pinkney, Jr is an accomplished Graphic Designer with over 25 years of experience. A Philadelphia native who now calls Atlanta his home. He enjoys his dog, Chloeé, working out, movies, and running his own freelance graphic/ web design business.

ARLINDA SMITH BROADY

Contributing Editor

Arlinda Smith Broady is of the Boomerang

Generation of Blacks that moved back to the South after ancestors moved North. With 30 years of journalism experience, she’s worked in tiny newsrooms to major metropolitans. She brings professionalism, passion, pluck, and the desire to spread news.

KATHY DEAN

Editor Emeritus

Kathy Dean has been a writer and editor for over 20 years. Some of the publications she has contributed to are Atlanta Senior Life, Atlanta INtown, Transatlantic Journal and The Guide to Coweta and Fayette Counties.

PATRIZIA WINSPER

Writer

Patrizia hails from Toronto, Canada where she earned an Honors B.A. in French and Italian Studies at York University, and a B.Ed. at the University of Toronto. This trilingual former French teacher has called Georgia home since 1998. Catch her reporting about our vibrant city on the Peachtree Corners Network.

GEORGE HUNTER

Photographer

George Hunter is an IT professional from Alaska by way of Texas. His primary hobby is photography, covering a wide range of subjects from pets to cosplay, sports to fashion. Volunteering and fostering dogs brings him much joy. George, his wife Lila and their rescued dogs have made their home in west Gwinnett for almost 20 years.

instagram.com/peachtreecornerslife facebook.com/peachtreecornerslife twitter.com/peachtreecrnrs www.pinterest.com/ PeachtreeCornersMagazine

PEACHTREECORNERS

PUBLISHED BY MIGHTY ROCKETS LLC.

P. O. BOX 923207

Peachtree Corners, GA 30010

678-438-5310 editor@livinginpeachtreecorners.com

Peachtree Corners Magazine is published six times a year by Mighty Rockets LLC. Opinions expressed by the contributing writers and editors are not necessarily those of the publishers, editors or Peachtree Corners Magazine. The publisher will not accept responsibility for submitted materials that are lost or stolen. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of this publication. However, the publisher cannot assume responsibility for errors or omissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission.

Publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisement it seems unfit for publication or does not fit in our guidelines.

June/July 2023 issue

Volume 5 Number 27

©2023 Peachtree Corners Magazine

The editors welcome submissions, event listings, achievements and photography. Please direct them to editor@livinginpeachtreecorners.com.

This publication is independently and privately owned, and managedby Mighty Rockets LLC

TRACEY RICE

Photographer

After a long career in global marketing for Fortune 500 companies like The Coca-Cola Company and Texas Instruments, Tracey earned a degree in Commercial Photography and now owns her own photography business. She specializes in portraits, events and real estate photography. She is the President of the Peachtree Corners Photography Club.

RAINA LOGAN

Writer/Podcast Production

BRUCE JOHNSON

Photographer

Bruce has been a resident of Gwinnett County for over 30 years and is heavily involved in the Southwest Gwinnett community. A former General Manager of the Hilton Atlanta Northeast hotel, he is active with the SWGC, PTC Business Association and Norcross community meetings/events. Currently, he works for Explore Gwinnett.

Raina Logan is a highly accomplished audio engineer, music producer, and talented writer. With over a decade of entrepreneurial experience as the owner of an esteemed audio production company, Raina seamlessly merges her creative writing skills with her technical expertise, shaping unforgettable auditory journeys.

EVENTS

FIRST UP

Seoul of the South Food Tour Ticket Sales

11 a.m.-3 p.m.

exploregwinnett.org/seoulofthesouth

Tickets: $69 per person

Events, Programs & Fun Things to Do

with other writers and listen to accomplished authors. Daniel Black and Meg Leader will each give presentations and offer tips. Complimentary refreshments will be available during the Network & Nosh mixer (12:45 p.m.- 1:30 p.m.) for members and first-time visitors.

Model Railroad Days

June 24-25

Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m.

Southeastern Railway Museum

3595 Buford Hwy., Duluth train-museum.org

Explore Gwinnett’s Seoul of the South Food Tour tickets are available for the 2023 season. Tickets sell quickly, so don’t wait. Dates are set for May 20, June 24, July 8, August 12 and September 16. The tour runs for four hours. Tickets include food at four local Korean restaurants and bakeries; transportation is provided.

June

Camp Confidence: Believe in You

Sundays, June 11-July 2; July 9-July 30 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Unity Atlanta Church

3597 Parkway Lane, Peachtree Corners

unityatl.org, 770-441-0585

Admission: love offering suggested This summer enrichment program, for youth ages 5-13, is designed to build self-awareness, self-acceptance, self-confidence and charac-

Important Dates

JUNE

Pride Month

Flag Day | June 14

Father’s Day | June 18

Juneteenth | June 19

ter. The program offers two, fourweek sessions on Sundays —June 11-July 2 and July 9-30. For more information and to pre-register, email Leshey Williams at leshey@ unityatl.org.

Writers’ Workshop with Atlanta Writers Club

Saturday, June 17 12:45-4 p.m.

Gwinnett County Public Library — Duluth Branch

3180 Main St., Duluth gwinnettpl.org, 770-978-5154

Admission: free; registration recommended

Residents aged 19+ will network

JULY

Independence Day | July 4

Bastille Day | July 14

Tisha B’Av | July 27

AUGUST

Purple Heart Day | August 7

Saint John’s Eve Celebration

Friday, June 23

Mass starts 7 p.m.; festivities start 8 p.m.

Mary Our Queen

6260 The Corners Pkwy., Peachtree Corners

maryourqueen.com, 770-416-0002

Admission: free

The celebration of Saint John the Baptist, cousin of Jesus, starts with a Mass, then a Blessing of the Bonfire immediately afterward. There will be water balloons, music, popcorn…even a dunking tank. Bring your own chair or blanket.

Bluesberry Beer Festival

Saturday, June 24, 3-10 p.m.

Betty Maudlin Park

1-63 Lawrenceville St., Norcross bluesberrybeerfestival.com

Admission: free

Father’s Day weekend features a celebration of blueberries, beer and local bands in Norcross. Local restaurants offer special blueberry dishes and drinks and bands from all over Georgia come to perform.

Tickets: Adults, $18; seniors 65+, $15; children ages 2-12, $12

The model train layout at the Southeastern Railway Museum will be highlighted. Other attractions include classic trains on display, model layouts, cab and park train rides, model railroad surplus sales and the souvenir shop.

July

Red, White & Boom!

Monday, July 3, 5-10 p.m.

Lillian Webb Park / Downtown Norcross

5 College St., Norcross norcrossga.net

Admission: free Food, live music, face painting and family fun kick off the Independence Day celebrations. An amazing fireworks display will light up the night sky in shades of red, white and blue. Bring blankets and chairs.

JUNE

3: Flicks on the Green - Soul

10: Night Music - Her Majesty’s Request (British Rock & Pop Experience)

17: Sports on the Screen

24: Smr. Concert SeriesGuardians of the Jukebox (80’s tribute band)

SEPTEMBER

2: Flicks on the Green - Coco

9: Night Music - The Foozer Experience (Weezer & Foo Fighters)

16: Bark at the Park 11am-2pm

22-24: Peachtree Corner Festival

30: Smr. Concert Series - Swamp River Revival (Creedence Clearwater Revival Tribute)

DECEMBER

2: Sports on the Screen

9: Sports on the Screen

JULY

1: Flicks on the Green - Back to the Future

8: Night Music - All the Locals

15: Summer Kids Festival 2-5pm

22: Sports on the Screen

29: Smr. Concert Series - Ray Howard Band (Earth Wind & Fire Tribute)

OCTOBER

7: Flicks on the Green - Hocus Pocus

14: Night Music - Chuck Martin & The Line-Up (Country Music)

21: 3rd Annual PTC Decathlon

21: Sports on the Screen

28: Smr. Concert SeriesNashville Yacht Club Band

AUGUST

5: Flicks on the Green - Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory

12: Night Music - Uptown Funk

(Tribute to Bruno Mars)

12: Light Up the Corners Run

19: Sports on the Screen

26: Smr. Concert Series - Face 2

Face (Billy Joel & Elton John Trib.)

NOVEMBER

4: Sports on the Screen

11: Veterans Day Ceremony

18: Sports on the Screen

25: Sports on the Screen

30: Holiday Glow 5:30-8pm

TIMES

Flicks on the Green: 7pm Night Music: 7pm

Summer Concert Series: 7pm

Yoga on the Green (by Sunny Street Yoga): Tues 8am (May-Sep)

CrossFit (by PPG CrossFit): Thurs 8am (May-Sep)

Cornhole ATL League: Wed 6:30pm (Jan-Oct)

The House at Pooh Corner

July 13-16

Thursday and Friday, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 2 p.m.

Lionheart Theatre

10 College St., Norcross lionhearttheatre.org

Tickets: $12

This year’s summer kid’s show, The House at Pooh Corner, centers around Christopher Robin and his friends as they agree to run away so Christopher won’t be sent away to “Education.”

August

Light Up the Corners

Saturday, August 12

Twilight Trot 1k start, 8 p.m.; 4M start, 8:30 p.m.

The Forum

5155 Peachtree Pkwy., Peachtree Corners

lightupthecorners.com

Registration: starts at $35 for individuals, $30 for team members

Racers and volunteers are encouraged to sign up soon. All proceeds from the Twilight Trot and 4 Mile run event go to local children and families by giving them the chance to participate in programs and activities at the Fowler YMCA. The post-race party includes prizes for glowiest man, woman, girl, boy and team.

Town Green Calendar

5140 Town Center Boulevard, Peachtree Corners peachtreecornersga.gov

Scan QR for Calendar ►

CrossFit at the Green

Every Tuesday, 8-9 a.m. through September

Admission: free

Everyone is invited, regardless of age or fitness level, to join Terrance Fox with CrossFit PPG for a strength and conditioning workout every Thursday, May through September. Students should bring water (no glass containers), a small towel or two, and a mat if possible; plan to wear workout attire and good shoes.

Yoga on the Green

Every Tuesday, 8-9 a.m. through September

Admission: free

Taught by instructors from Sunny Street Yoga, this is a yoga class for beginners to experienced yogis. Students are asked to bring water (no glass containers), a small towel or two, and a mat if you have one — and wear comfortable clothes.

Flicks on the Green

First Saturday of each month through October. Movies begin at 7 p.m.

Admission: free

Flicks on the Green is a movie series featuring iconic movies. Bring a blanket and stretch out on the lawn to experience movies under the stars. Grab food from your favorite Town Green restaurants and picnic. Low profile lawn chairs are also allowed.

June 3 — Soul

A computer-animated comedy-drama by Disney and Pixar, Soul centers on a jazz pianist who dies before his big break and tries to reunite his body and soul.

July 1 — Back to the Future

Set in 1985, the sci-fi classic follows Marty McFly and “Doc” Brown as they accidentally travel into the past. McFly must fix things so his parents fall in love and he can get back to his own time.

August 5 — Willy Wonka & The Chocolate

Factory

This musical fantasy stars Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka, an eccentric candymaker who offers the chance for golden ticket winners to tour his incredible factory. When poor Charlie Bucket finds a ticket, he embarks on a wild adventure with four other lucky children.

Night Music

Second Saturday of each month through September. 7-9 p.m.

Admission: free

Night Music brings live, local bands at Town Green.

— and for lending his guitar skills to Stax Records recording artist William Bell.

Sports on the Screen Town Green

5140 Town Green Blvd., Peachtree Corners

Admission: free

Sports fans are invited to tailgate and cheer on their favorite teams. Everyone is encouraged to bring their own coolers or purchase food and drink from one of Town Center’s many restaurants. For more info, go to peachtreecornersga.gov.

Braves v Rockies — Saturday, June 17, 4:10 p.m.

Braves v Brewers — Saturday, July 22, 7:15 p.m.

Summer Concert Series

Last Saturday of each month through September. 7-9 p.m.

▲June 10 — Her Majesty’s Request featuring Amazing Mongooses brings the British rock experience through music that ranges from the British Invasion through to Brit Pop. The opening band, Amazing Mongooses, is a trio of Decatur locals that perform blues, classic rock and original rock.

July 8 — All the Locals is an Atlanta band with a sound that blends rock and roll with blues and neo-soul. The evening also features singer-songwriter Cody Matlock. He’s known for his music — a blend of a soul, funk and R&B

Admission: free.

Enjoy warm weather and hot musical acts.

June 24 — Guardians of the Jukebox is “a five-star nostalgia ‘80s juggernaut.” They love the 80s and consider themselves more of a high-energy time machine than just a tribute band.

July 29 — The Ray Howard Band specializes in tribute performances and will showcase their Earth, Wind & Fire experience. Lilac Wine opens the evening with tasteful song choices performed in their signature sweet and heady style.

Forum Fit

Every Wednesday, 6-7 p.m.

Admission: free This weekly fitness session combines strength conditioning, cardio and mindfulness, leaving participants feeling balanced and empowered. Earn a loyalty stamp for every completed class.

Thursday Night Live

Every Thursday, 6-8 p.m.

Admission: free

Favorite local musicians bring good sounds to the Forum through October. Everyone is invited to kick back relax.

June 22, July 27, August 24 — The Bourbon Brothers, bourbonbrothersband.com

June 29 — Hughes Taylor, hughestaylormusic.com

July 6, August 10 — The Human DJ, thehumandj.org

August 3 — Canon Tyler, canontyler.com

Ladies Night Out at the Forum

Thursday, June 15, 5-7 p.m.

Grab your girlfriends and indulge in a night of strolling, sipping, snacking and shopping for an exclusive Forum experience. The evening includes a complimentary glass of champagne, picnic photo ops and more.

Little Peaches

Last Tuesdays of the month, June 27 and July 25 4-6 p.m.

Admission: free

June 1, July 20 — Taylor Harlow, taylorharlowmusic.com

June 8 — Nathan Angelo, nathanangelo.com

June 15, July 13, August 31 —

Children are invited for an ultimate playdate with kid-friendly crafts, games and entertainment on the last Tuesday of the month. June’s theme is Celebrating First Responders, and July will be all about Party Animals.

5155 Peachtree Parkway, Peachtree Corners theforumpeachtree.com/events

Chris Cauley, facebook.com/ chriscauleymusic

Hughes Taylor

Peachtree Corners Library Branch Calendar Highlights

5570 Spalding Drive, Peachtree Corners 30092 770-978-5154 | gwinnettpl.org

and pick up them up Thursday, June 8, 10 a.m. Registration is strongly encouraged.

Preschool Storytime

Thursdays, June 8, 15, 22 and July 13, 20, 27, 10:30-11 a.m.

Parents and preschoolers, ages 0-5, are welcome to join the fun with stories, games and songs.

Juneteenth

Lunch & Learn

Tuesday, June 13, 1-2 p.m. Everyone age 19+ is invited to learn more about Juneteenth and why it is celebrated as the oldest known tradition honoring the end of slavery in the United States.

Camp Games

Tuesday, June 13, 2-2:45 p.m.

Doggie Tales

Saturday, June 3, 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Children 5-10 are invited to practice reading skills with trained therapy dogs.

Reading Buddies

Mondays, June 5, 12, 26 and July 3, 10, 17, 24, 4-6 p.m.

Kids ages 6-11 can develop their reading skills by reading aloud with a volunteer Reading Buddy.

Toddler Time

Tuesdays, June 6, 13, 20 and July 11, 18, 25 10:30-11 a.m.

Stories, songs and simple rhymes for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers.

Intro to 3D Printing

Wednesday, June 7, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Residents ages 16 and up will learn the basics of 3D printing in the Learning Lab.

Camping Storytime and Stuffed Animal Campout

Wednesday, June 7, 6-7 p.m.

Kids aged 0-11 will enjoy a fun camping story time and craft activity with their furry friends, then tuck them in at the library. They can follow their overnight adventure

This Camp Kindness adventure is for teens in grades 6-12.

Camp Lanterns & Games

Tuesday, June 13, 2-2:45 p.m.

Elementary school aged kids, ages 6-11, will play fun group games and craft a light-up lantern.

Colors of the Rainbow

Tuesday, June 13, 3-4 p.m. Students aged 6-11 can learn about the different colors of the rainbow with a simple science experiment.

Digital Scavenger Hunt for Seniors

Tuesday, June 20, 1-2 p.m. Older adults are encouraged come in person to participate in a fun and interactive digital scavenger hunt.

Balloon Rocket

Friday, June 23, 1-2 p.m.

Kids 6-11 will expand their STEM knowledge and put their engineering skills to the test by making a balloon rocket to race.

Robotics EV3 Maze Run

Saturday, June 24, 2-3 p.m. This workshop, designed for ages

9-14, teaches kids to code a pre-built robot to follow a maze. Online registration opens June 1.

Could You Pass the Citizenship Test?

Wednesday, July 5, 3-4 p.m. Here’s a chance to residents 19+ to celebrate the 4th of July with a test of their knowledge of American Civics and government.

Hiking Tips and Strategies for Adults

Saturday, July 8, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Adults 19+ are invited to join in when the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club (GATC) presents fundamental information, tips and strategies that help everyone safely enjoy hiking.

Sewing Basics

Wednesday, July 12, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Anyone aged 16+ who has an idea for a sewing project but is unsure how to use a sewing machine — this program is for you! Online registration opens June 15.

Cloud Categories

Thursday, July 13, 2-3 p.m. Students 6-11 can learn about the different types of clouds and construct a cloud viewer to help with identification.

Robotics EV3 Color Sensor

Saturday, July 22, 2-3 p.m. Here’s a workshop in which students, ages 16-18, learn to code a prebuilt robot to sense colors. Online registration opens July 1.

It’s a Puppet Show!

Monday, July 24, 1:30-2 p.m. The GCPL Puppeteers entertain kids ages 6-11 as they bring stories to life using puppets, silly antics and catchy music.

International Tiger Day

Tuesday, July 25, 2-3 p.m. Students 6-11 learn about tigers, why they are endangered and what they can do to help save the tigers.

GWINNETT COUNTY PARKS

gwinnettcounty.com

Bi-lingual Storytime

Fridays, June 2, July 7, August 4

10:30-11:15 a.m.

OneStop Norcross

5030 Georgia Belle Ct., Norcross

678-225-5400

Admission: free

There will be bilingual fun with an epic story and sing-along. Children 8 and under will experience stories in both English and Spanish.

Kids Night: Pizza and Play

Fridays, June 2, July 7, August 4 5:30-8:30 p.m.

OneStop Norcross

5030 Georgia Belle Ct., Norcross

678-225-5400

Admission: $8 per Gwinnett resident, $20 per non-resident Parents can drop off their kids, ages 7-12, and enjoy a night out while the kids have a blast at a pizza party with games galore.

Kids Fishing Day

Saturday, June 3 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Jones Bridge Park

4901 East Jones Bridge Rd., Peachtree Corners

678-277-0920

Admission: free

All ages are welcome to reel in some fun on the Chattahoochee River with fishing, food and eco-friendly exhibitors. Bring a rod or borrow one from the Parks Dept. Rods and bait are provided on a first come, first served basis. No fishing license necessary.

Mindful and Healthy Families

Fridays, June 9, July 14, August 11 10:30-11:15 a.m.

OneStop Norcross

5030 Georgia Belle Ct., Norcross

678-225-5400

Admission: free

Designed for families with young children, this program focuses on mindfulness activities to include breathwork, meditation, self-care practices, as well as health education on relevant parenting and child topics to promote healthy family lifestyles. Ages 3 and up are welcome.

Songs and Rhymes

Saturdays, June 10, July 8, August 12

10:30-11:15 a.m.

OneStop Norcross

5030 Georgia Belle Ct., Norcross

678-225-5400

Admission: free

Children ages 8 and under enjoy an enriching experience through music, games and oral literature, presented in English and Spanish.

Family Health and Fitness Day

Saturday, June 10, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Jones Bridge Park

4901 E. Jones Bridge Rd., Peachtree Corners

Admission: free

Bring the family to enjoy free games and activities for ages 3 and up. Learn about health and receive free screenings. Want more info? Go to GwinnettParks.com or call 678-277-0920.

Swim 1922 — Swim Safely

Saturday, June 10, 1-4 p.m.

Best Friend Park Pool

6224 Jimmy Carter Blvd., Norcross

Admission: free

678-277-0224

Admission: free

Ages 4 and up can have a splash at this safety boost event, co-hosted by Mu Epsilon Sigma to reach underserved communities and populations at risk for drowning.

Awaken Within Artist Reception

Thursday, June 15, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Pinckneyville Park Community Recreation Center

4758 S. Old Peachtree Rd., Norcross

678-277-0920

Admission: free

All ages are welcome to meet artist Sandra Soldo Ackovic, who awakens nature through symbolizing ones’ soul by typing in human connection with nature in healing and accepting. The Awaken Within show will be on display June 12 through September 8, during the open hours at Pinckneyville Park Community Recreation Center.

Fathers’ Day Play

Saturday, June 17, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

OneStop Norcross

5030 Georgia Belle Ct., Norcross 678-225-5400

Admission: $10

Enjoy some summer fun with the family. Show off your competitive skills, have some pizza, win fun prizes on select games and earn bragging rights to last the summer.

Chalk Graffiti

Saturday, June 17, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. West Gwinnett Park Aquatic Center 4488 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Norcross 678-407-8801

Admission: $4

All ages are welcome to channel their inner artist and make a colorful scene at the pool.

Coffee & Collage

Thursday, June 22, 6-7 p.m.

OneStop Norcross

5030 Georgia Belle Ct., Norcross 678-225-5400

Admission: $15 per Gwinnett resident, $30 per non-resident Wind down after work and explore the creative process using a variety of art media. Supplies and light refreshments are included. Participants 30 and older are welcome to bring their own snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. No previous art experience is required.

Family Game Night

Thursday, June 22, 6-8 p.m. OneStop Norcross

5030 Georgia Belle Ct., Norcross 678-225-5400

Admission: $5 per Gwinnett resident, $10 per non-resident Families with kids aged 7-12 will compete for prizes on select games and enjoy pizza.

Clay Creations

Friday, June 23, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Pinckneyville Park Community Recreation Center

4758 S. Old Peachtree Rd., Norcross 678-277-0920

Admission: $12 per Gwinnett resident, $32 per non-resident

An evening of relaxation and creation is offered at the Pinckneyville Park Community Center Pottery Studio. Anyone aged 16+ will be taught the basics of clay homebuilding and then create a work of art. Light refreshments will be served.

Herb Garden

Friday, July 7, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

OneStop Norcross

5030 Georgia Belle Ct., Norcross

678-225-5400

Admission: $5 per Gwinnett resident, $10 per non-resident Here’s an opportunity for ages 7 and up to learn about herbs.

Pop Up Teen Scene

Friday, July 7

6-8 p.m.

Lucky Shoals Community Center

4651 Britt Rd., Norcross

678-277-0860

Admission: free

The Good Neighbor Teen Club invites everyone ages 12-17 for a night of music, games and crafts.

Health Hero

Saturday, July 15, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

OneStop Norcross

5030 Georgia Belle Ct., Norcross

678-225-5400

Admission: free

Be a hero with your health! There will be activities, wellness tips, outdoor adventures, health screenings, resources and family-friendly fun.

B.T.S. Bash: Swim Night

Friday, July 28, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

West Gwinnett Park Aquatic Center

4488 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Norcross 678-407-8801

Admission: $4

All ages are welcome to put on their thinking caps on for STEM games and brainteasers at this back-toschool swim party.

Sweet Tea and Terrariums

Saturday, July 29, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Pinckneyville Park Community Recreation Center

4758 S. Old Peachtree Rd., Norcross 678-277-0920

Admission: $12 per Gwinnett resident; $32 per non-resident

Celebrate the growing community at during National Parks and Recreation month. Ages 10 and up will enjoy sweet tea and build terrariums to take home.

Friendship Day

Saturday, July 29 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

OneStop Norcross

5030 Georgia Belle Ct., Norcross 678-225-5400

Admission: $5 per Gwinnett resident, $10 per non-resident Everyone ages 7 and up is invited.

Family Paint Party

Saturday, July 29 1-3 p.m.

OneStop Norcross

5030 Georgia Belle Ct., Norcross 678-225-5400

Admission: $18 per Gwinnett resident, $36 per non-resident Gather the family – all ages – and express your creativity together.

Senior Bridge Club

Thursdays, starting August 3 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Pinckneyville Park

4758 S. Old Peachtree Rd., Norcross 678-277-0920

Admission: free

The club meets every Thursday for ages 50 and up. Please call for availability.

Norcross Gallery and Studios

116 Carlyle St., Norcross norcrossgalleryandstudios.org, 770-840-9844

Exhibits and Events

Georgia Spring, a collaborative show

April 20-May 27

Pigments of the Imagination, a juried show

June 8-July 22

Meet the Artist of the Month

June 28 — Angelika Domschke

July 26 — Tim Haugh

4:30-6:30 p.m.

45 South Café

45 S. Peachtree St., Norcross

Open Studios

Evening Open Studio

Wednesdays, 6-9 p.m.

Cost: $5 members, $10 non-members

Moderator: Patty Grewe-Mullins, pgrewemullins@gmail.com

Daytime Open Studio

Thursdays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Cost: $5 members, $10 nonmembers Moderator: Anne Labaire, labaireart@gmail.com

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL AT ONE HEART CHURCH

VBS 2023 is all about Twists & Turns™, a fantastical celebration of games of all kinds. Kids will play their way through VBS in fun locations such as the Bible Study Game Room, Wild Card Crafts, Multi-player Missions, and Skip Ahead Snacks! But more importantly, they’ll see Jesus through the eyes of one of His closest friends and discover that trusting Jesus as Savior and following Him changes the game entirely! Following Jesus changes everything!

Register before April 15 and get a free T-shirt. To register use the QR code or go to https://oneheartchurch.org/ministries/family/kidsevents/

When: Monday, June 5th - Friday, June 9th

Where: One Heart Church, 706 N. Peachtree Street, Norcross, GA 30071 Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Who: Pre-K- 5th Grade

Best of Peachtree Corners Readers’ Choice Awards 2023

Our readers have spoken! Here are the results of this year’s “Best of Peachtree Corners” survey.

More than 2,300 of our readers and social media friends shared their opinions to help us compile this list of area favorites. Thank you to all our voters, and congratulations to all the chosen businesses and organizations.

Best Mexican Food

#1. Taqueria Tsunami

Taqueria Tsunami takes the best flavors from the Far East and South of the Border to dish up a variety of hand-crafted, fusion tacos, salads, appetizers and cocktails, in a fun, contemporary atmosphere. Dedicated to helping out victims of tsunamis and natural disasters, a portion of sales from top selling tacos are donated to the Georgia Red Cross.

5160 Town Center Blvd. taqueriatsunami.com

@TaqueriaTsunami, 678-310-1079

#2. La Parrilla

5131 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 1005 laparrilla.com

@LaParrillaMexicanRestaurant, 770-242-0766

#3. Taqueria Del Mar

5075 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 105A taqueriadelmar.com

@TaqueriadelMar, 770-696-4582

#3. Kiko’s 3435 Medlock Bridge Rd. kikosmexican.com 770-441-1818

Best Tacos

#1. Taqueria Del Mar Taqueria del Mar is a fast casual grill and bar featuring affordable Southwestern cuisine with handcrafted margaritas, cocktails, beer and wine. Sustainability is important to this restaurant, as it uses recycled and reclaimed supplies, fixtures and equipment. The entire restaurant interior was built using recycled and reclaimed wood.

5075 Suite 105A Peachtree Pkwy. taqueriadelmar.com

@TaqueriadelMar, 770-696-4582

Compiled by Raina Logan

#2. Taqueria Tsunami 5160 Town Center Blvd. taqueriatsunami.com

@TaqueriaTsunami, 678-310-1079

#3. Kiko’s 3435 Medlock Bridge Rd. kikosmexican.com 770-441-1818

#3. Jimmy’s Tequila and Carnes 6365 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Doraville jimmystequila.com

@JimmysTequila, 470-359-2884

Best Place for a Business Lunch

#1. Marlow’s Tavern Marlow’s Tavern features the “Best of the Best” in American tavern fare served in a modern atmosphere. A neighborhood feel is accomplished with an open kitchen that invites diners to watch chefs at work, communal tables and large cozy booths.

5210 Town Center Blvd., Ste. 260 marlowstavern.com

@MarlowsTavern, 470-550-1197

#2. Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar 5224 Peachtree Pkwy. lazydogrestaurants.com

@LazyDogRestaurants, 470-735-4501

#3. Firebirds Wood Fired Grill 5215 Town Center Blvd. firebirdsrestaurants.com

@FirebirdsGrill, 770-225-4662

Best Barbecue

#1. ‘cue Barbecue

‘Cue has only one philosophy: Make everything from scratch and make it yummy, fill the restaurant with good fun people to serve you, change up the menu utilizing locally grown fruits and vegetables and bring in some unique beers and inspiring wines so that each day is a new day. Wait, maybe that’s more like five philosophies.

5260 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Norcross cuebarbecue.com 470-299-5117

Photo by George Hunter

Marlow’s Tavern

#2. Moe’s Original BBQ

5005 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 810 moesoriginalbbq.com

@MobPeachtreeCorners, 770-696-2931

#3. Shane’s Rib Shack

5770 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Ste. 111 shanesribshack.com

@ShanesRibShack, 770-416-6606

#3. JR’s Log House Restaurant

6601 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. jrsloghouse.com

770-449-6426

Best Breakfast

#1. Flying Biscuit Cafe

Famous for their grits and biscuits, Flying Biscuit Café bakes almost 5,000 biscuits per week at each location. Focused on a Southern-inspired menu of comfort food made with fresh ingredients, guests come to enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the day.

5270 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 120 flyingbiscuit.com

@FlyingBiscuitCafe, 770-407-5885

#2. First Watch

5230 Town Center Blvd., Ste. 110 firstwatch.com

@FirstWatch, 470-781-9190

#3. JR’S Log House

6601 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. jrsloghouse.com

770-449-6426

Best Brewery

#1. Anderby Brewing

Founded in 2019 as a brewery, Anderby has just added ‘Distilling’ to their name. They use care and detailed techniques with their line of lagers, traditional beers and

now whiskies, bourbons and rums. Driven by an intense desire to create something different, some may say they’re curiously different.

110 Technology Pkwy., Ste. 200 anderbybrewing.com

@AnderbyBrewing, 770-559-7550

#2. Kettlerock Brewing

6025 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 1 kettlerockbrewing.com

@KettlerockBrewing, 678-615-2600

#3. Social Fox

20 Skin Alley, Norcross socialfoxbrewing.com

@SocialFoxBrewing, 470-359-4109

Best Burgers

#1. Firebirds Wood Fired Grill

Firebirds is an American restaurant and steakhouse known for their scratch kitchen, bold flavors and inviting atmosphere. Diners enjoy authentic wood-fired steak and seafood entrées, bold flavors, especially cocktails and select wines in a polished-casual atmosphere.

5215 Town Center Blvd. firebirdsrestaurants.com

@FirebirdsGrill, 770-225-4662

#2. Ted’s Montana Grill

5165 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 205 tedsmontanagrill.com

@TedsMontanaGrill, 678-405-0305

#3. J Alexander’s 5245 Peachtree Pkwy. jalexanders.com

770-263-9755

#3. Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar 5224 Peachtree Pkwy. lazydogrestaurants.com

@LazyDogRestaurants, 470-735-4501

Best Chinese Food

#1. Lon U

The menu at Lon U is full of unique and flavorful Asian dishes, from classic favorites to more adventurous options. No matter what you’re in the mood for, you won’t be disappointed.

5005 Peachtree Pkwy. lonunorcross.com

770-441-0200

#2. New Dragon 5450 Peachtree Pkwy. newdragonpeachtreecorners.com 770-558-4262

#3. Panda Express

3200 Holcomb Bridge Rd. pandaexpress.com

@officialpandaexpress, 678-969-0028

Best Boba Tea

#1. Gong Cha

Gong Cha is one of the most recognized bubble tea brands around the world. Known for quality tea and service, Gong Cha offers a variety of tea, iced smoothies, coffee and creative mixed beverage options.

5210 Town Center Blvd., Ste. 220 gongchausa.com

@GongChaTea, 770-417-8223

#2. Peachy Corners Cafe

6367 Spalding Dr. peachycornerscafe.com

@Peachy_Corners_Cafe, 678-691-0547

#3. Unbelibubble

5270 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 118-A unbelibubble.com

@UnbelibubbleTea, 770-864-1775

Best Desserts / Ice

Cream

#1. Beard Papa’s

A premier bakery that originated in Japan in 1999, Beard Papa’s serves up the world’s best cream puffs in Metro Atlanta. It’s an ideal spot for an afternoon pick-me-up for a cream puff and coffee while shopping or on the way home for dessert. They’re committed to bringing a smile and Japanese oishii! (delicious!) to the world.

5215 Town Center Blvd. beardpapas.com

@BeardPapas, 770-807-0564

#2. Tiff’s Treats Cookie 5230 Town Center Blvd., Ste. 130 cookiedelivery.com

@TiffsTreats, 470-387-1200

#3. Peterbrooke Chocolatier

5135 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 930 peterbrooke.com

@PeterbrookeChocolatier, 770-817-8118

#3. Kremo Ice Cream

5200 Town Center Blvd., Ste. 240 Kremoicecream.a-zcompanies.com @KremoPeachtreeCorners, 808-222-2963

Best Sushi

#1. Sushi Osawa

On the frontier of Japanese restaurants, Sushi Osawa presents unique and wonderful cuisine created from the finest ingredients. Serving the freshest seafood, meat and produce in a fun and friendly atmosphere, it’s a one of a kind experience that inspires guests to return again and again.

5270 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 119 sushiosawa.online

678-691-3034

#2. Sushi Mito 6470 Spalding Dr. sushimito.com

@Sushi_Mito, 770-734-0398

#3. Aomi Japanese Restaurant 5145 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 470A aomijapanese.com 770-840-8710

Best Ramen

#1. Sushi Osawa

5270 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 119 sushiosawa.online

678-691-3034

Anderby Brewing

Sushi Osawa

#2. Aomi Japanese Restaurant

5145 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 470A aomijapanese.com

770-840-8710

#3. Jinbei West

5170 Town Center Blvd., Ste. 410 jinbeiwest.com

678-587-5323

Best Latin Food

#1. Mojitos Cuban American Bistro

Mojitos is a family-owned and operated Cuban American restaurant that boasts over 15 years serving the Metro Atlanta area. It features the finest mojito cocktails and authentic family recipes passed down from generation to generation. With live music and dancing on the weekends, you’ll feel like a guest in their home while having a memorable dining experience.

5165 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 630 mojitosbistro.com

@MojitoSatl, 770-686-3254

#2. Tortugas Cuban Grill

3466 Holcomb Bridge Rd. NW, Ste. AA tortugascubangrill.com

@TortugasCuban, 470-275-5599

#3. Latin Fresh

4941 S. Old Peachtree Rd. latinfreshgroup.com

@LatinFreshGroup, 470-861-7786

Best Thai Food

#1. Royal Bistro

Royal Bistro is a vibrant and enchanting restaurant that invites diners to embark on a culinary journey through the flavors of Thailand. It showcases a wide array of delectable dishes that capture the essence of Thai cuisine. From aromatic curries to zesty stir-fries, each dish is expertly prepared using the finest ingredients and traditional cooking techniques.

6365 Spalding Dr., Ste. A royal-bistro.com

678-404-7733

#2. Thai Star

5370 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Chamblee thaistarmenu.com

770-326-9991

#3. L’thai Organic Cuisine and Wine Bar

5450 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 7-D lethai.com

770-807-7684

Best Outdoor Dining

#1. Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar Lazy Dog is a cherished creation born out of a multigenerational passion for hospitality and a deep appreciation for that authentic small-town mountain feeling. Through handcrafted meals made with love, carefully sourced ingredients, and a seasonal menu that pays homage to nature’s bounty, Lazy Dog aims to be your home away from home.

5224 Peachtree Pkwy. lazydogrestaurants.com

@LazyDogRestaurants, 470-735-4501

#2. Pêche Modern Coastal 5155 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 320 pecheforum.com

@PecheModernCoastal, 770-674-1098

#3. Fire & Stone Italian Pizza Kitchen 5215 Town Center Blvd., Ste. 610 fireandstonekitchen.com

@FireandStoneKitchen, 470-219-5100

#3. Firebirds Wood Fired Grill 5215 Town Center Blvd. firebirdsrestaurants.com

@FirebirdsGrill, 770-225-4662

Best Pizza

#1. Fire & Stone Italian Pizza Kitchen Fire & Stone serves Neapolitan and New York style pizzas made with the freshest premium ingredients and prepared at 800º in custom-built wood fired ovens. Their dough is made fresh inhouse every day, and they use only the finest cheese and toppings to make sure they’re serving up the best pizza.

5215 Town Center Blvd., Ste. 610 fireandstonekitchen.com

@FireandStoneKitchen, 470-219-5100

#2. Dagwoods 7746 Spalding Dr., Sandy Springs dagwoodspizza.com 770-441-7773

#3. California Pizza Kitchen 5175 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 1400 cpk.com 770-971-7950

#3. Marco’s 5270 Peachtree Pkwy. marcos.com 770-840-9991

Best Seafood

#1. Firebirds Wood Fired Grill 5215 Town Center Blvd. firebirdsrestaurants.com

@FirebirdsGrill, 770-225-4662

#2. Pêche Modern Coastal 5155 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 320 pecheforum.com

@PecheModernCoastal, 770-674-1098

#3. Stäge 5260 Peachtree Pkwy. stagepeachtreecorners.com

@StagePeachtreeCorners, 770-680-2728

Best Vegetarian Food

#1. Loving Hut Loving Hut is one of the largest

Best Local Venue for Private Parties

#1. Anderby Brewing 110 Technology Pkwy., Ste. 200 anderbybrewing.com

@AnderbyBrewing, 770-559-7550

#2. Kettlerock Brewing 6025 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 1 kettlerockbrewing.com

@KettlerockBrewing, 678-615-2600

#3. Atlanta Marriott Peachtree Corners 475 Technology Pkwy. marriott.com

770-263-8558

#3. Atlanta Tech Park 107 Technology Pkwy. atlantatechpark.com

@AtlantaTechPark, 470-482-1800

and fastest growing family vegan restaurants in the world with over 200 locations in 35 countries. They serve delicious plant-based meals using only natural and healthy ingredients as they work to respect and protect the planet through sustainable practices.

6385 Spalding Dr., Ste. E lovinghut.us

@LHVeganBanhmi, 678-421-9191

#2. Clean Eatz 3975 Holcomb Bridge Rd. cleaneatz.com

@CleanEatzPeachtreeCornersGA, 678-833-5353

#3. Cava 5150 Peachtree Pkwy. cava.com

@Cava, 470-740-5432

Best Wings

#1. Three Dollar Café

One of the top 25 restaurants in Atlanta since 1994, Three Dollar Café is known for the best chicken wings in Georgia, a wide selection of cold beer, delicious food and many screens to watch your favorite games. It’s a great choice for fun, family sports and food. 6050 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 100 threedollarcafe.com

@ThreeDollarCafeATL, 770-441-8520

#2. Wings 101 6135 Peachtree Pkwy. wings101.square.site 678-691-5199

#3. Jolene’s Wings & Beer 5224 Peachtree Pkwy. jolenes.com

@JolenesWings, 470-735-4501

Three Dollar Café

Best Barbershop

#1. Boardroom Salon for Men

The Boardroom Salon strives to make real connections and positively impact the lives of anyone that walks through the doors. From their signature service, The Benchmark, to a variety of cuts and shaves, it offers real transformation. They invite customers to grab a cold one, have a seat and get comfortable.

5210 Town Center Blvd., Ste. 230 boardroomstylinglounge.com

@TheBoardroomStylingLounge, 470-319-9001

#2. Patrick’s Executive Grooming Salon for Men

5575 Peachtree Pkwy. pegsm.com

240-350-8547

#3. Sport Clips

5275 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 104 haircutmenpeachtreecityga.com

678-291-0707

#3. Yany’s Hair Salon

5450 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 1C yanyshair.com

770-729-1767

Best MedSpa

#1. Suburban Med Spa

A comprehensive beauty and wellness center offering a wide range of aesthetic treatments and services. Their skilled team of professionals specializes in non-surgical procedures, including laser treatments, injectables, and body contouring, to help clients achieve their desired cosmetic goals.

4989 Peachtree Pkwy. suburbanmedspa.com

678-282-0051

#2. Dermani Medspa

5165 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 230 dermanimedspa.com

@DemaniMedspa_

PeachtreeCorners, 404-383-1108

#3. Massage Envy

5270 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 109B massageenvy.com

770-300-0033

Best Facial Spa

#1. Dermani Medspa

Dermani is an esteemed medical spa that provides a variety of advanced cosmetic treatments and services. Their dedicated team of experts offers a wide range of procedures all aimed at helping clients enhance their appearance and boost their confidence.

5165 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 230 dermanimedspa.com

@DemaniMedspa_

PeachtreeCorners, 404-383-1108

#2. Suburban Medical Spa

4989 Peachtree Pkwy. suburbanmedspa.com

678-282-0051

#3. Massage Envy

5270 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 109B massageenvy.com

770-300-0033

Best Workout Place

#1. Burn Boot Camp

Burn Boot Camp offers challenging and encouraging workouts with elite certified personal trainers who will push you to your limits and completely transform your life. You’ll get all the benefits of personal training in an exciting and encouraging group setting. 5450 Peachtree Pkwy. burnbootcamp.com 470-403-2876

#2. Robert D. Fowler Family YMCA

5600 W. Jones Bridge Rd. ymcaatlanta.org

770-246-9622

#3. Orangetheory Fitness

5270 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 105 orangetheory.com

678-786-4100

Best Nail Salon

#1. Urban Nail Salon

Whether you’re looking for routine nail care or special events, Urban Nail Salon will surely make you feel pampered with its excellent services and premium quality products.

5270 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 112 urbannailsalon.com

678-292-6307

#2. Tipsy Nail and Salon Bar

5230 Town Center Blvd., Ste.120 tipsypeachtreecorners.com

770-837-2130

#3. Luxury Nails at The Forum

4880 Peachtree Corners Cir., Ste. 1115 luxurynailsattheforum.com 770-687-2258

Best Hair

Salon

#1. Van Michael Salon Brothers Michael and Van Council launched Van Michael in 1984 with the goal to raise the bar in the

beauty industry and elevate hairdressing as a valued professional career. At Van Michael, clients receive tailored attention at every point of contact.

5165 Peachtree Pkwy. vanmichael.com

@CanMichaelSalon, 678-987-3600

#2. Frost Salon

5075 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 103 frost.salon

@Frost.Salon, 770-680-4549

#3. Yany’s Hair Salon

5450 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 1C yanyshair.com

770-729-1767

Best Yoga/Pilates Studio

#1. Sun Dragon Yoga

Sun Dragon is a yoga studio that offers a welcoming and inclusive environment for practitioners of all levels. They provide a variety of yoga classes and workshops to support individuals on their yoga journey and promote a balanced and harmonious lifestyle.

5600 Spalding Dr., Sandy Springs sundragonyoga.com

313-303-0096

#2. Sunny Street Yoga

6375 Spalding Dr., Ste. E sunnystreetyoga.com

@SunnyStreetYoga, 470-641-3021

#3. Teesha Yoga

5375 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 105 teeshayoga.com

@Teesha_Yoga, 470-597-0167

Best Animal Hospital / Veterinarian

#1. Spalding Animal Hospital

Spalding Animal Hospital provides the highest level of care, compassion and commitment to the health and well-being of your furry family members, from juvenile to geriatric. Every member of their highly trained team of professionals strives to maintain your pet’s health and family’s best interests.

105 Technology Pkwy. spaldinganimalhospital.com

770-558-4347

#2. Peachtree Corners Animal Clinic

4020 Holcomb Bridge Rd. animal-dr.com

770-448-0700

#3. Peach Paws Animal Hospital

5075 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 101 peachpawsvet.com

770-726-8725

#3. Medlock Bridge Animal Hospital

5155 S Old Peachtree Rd. medlockbridgevet.com

770-242-9272

Best Pet Boarding

#1. PetSuites Norcross

At PetSuites, they speak pet. The trusted team of Pet Pros delivers personalized service in fun, convenient and modern spaces. Pets can’t actually give the thumbs up (no thumbs and all), but if they could they’d be way up.

6865 Jimmy Carter Blvd., Norcross norcross.petsuitesofamerica.com @PetSuitesAltantaNorcross, 678-293-8125

#2. Camp Woof of Norcross 6000 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Ste. A1, Norcross campwoof.com

770-558-6100

#3. Peachtree Corners Animal Clinic

4020 Holcomb Bridge Rd. animal-dr.com

770-448-0700

Best Pet Groomer

#1. Pampered Paws

Focusing on providing exceptional grooming services for pets, Pampered Paws offers professional pet grooming services, ensuring that pets look and feel their best. With their expertise and care, they help pets maintain a clean and wellgroomed appearance.

5075 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 106 alliespaws.com

770-685-1234

PetSuites Norcross

#2. PetSmart 6050 Peachtree Pkwy. petsmart.com

@PetSmart, 770-300-0926

#3. Medlock Bridge Grooming

5155 S Old Peachtree Rd. medlockbridgevet.com

770-447-5100

#3. Peachtree Corners

Animal Clinic

4020 Holcomb Bridge Rd. animal-dr.com

770-448-0700

Best Dental Practice

#1. Innovative Smiles

Innovative Smiles is a trusted dental practice that provides a wide range of oral care services. Their experienced team of dentists offers comprehensive dental treatments, with a commitment to delivering personalized and high-quality dental care to their patients.

5185 Peachtree Pkwy., Bldg. 1200, Ste. 201 gwinnettdentist.com

770-637-7672

#2. Linked Dental 6270 Smithpointe Dr. linkdentalcare.com

@LinkDentalCare, 770-448-1977

#3. Greater Dental Health 5210 Town Center Blvd., Ste. 310 greaterdentalhealth.com

@GreaterDentalHealth, 470-508-0044

Best Day Care

#1. The Goddard School of Peachtree Corners

More than a warm and nurturing place, more than a great education for your child, The Goddard School is peace of mind. They work to positively impact their students, faculty and community for years to come by creating great experiences that help grow students academically, socially and cognitively.

5055 Peachtree Pkwy. goddardschool.com

@Goddard_School, 770-446-7939

#2. Primrose School of Peachtree Corners

6325 Primrose Hill Ct. primroseschools.com

@PrimroseSchools, 770-409-8732

#3. Sunshine House of Peachtree Corners

5470 Spalding Dr. sunshinehouse.com

@SunshineHouseCenters, 770-840-7404

Best Real Estate Agent

#1. Kelly Kim Kelly Kim is a leading real estate agent who prioritizes excellence and provides comprehensive services backed by advanced technology market expertise. Her local leadership ensures successful outcomes for clients in achieving their buying and selling goals. ansleyre.com/site/kellykim

678-464-4929

#2. Terri Hayes 4249 Allenhurst Dr. exechomesales.com

770-248-0770

#3. Alan Kaplan sothebysrealty.com/eng/associate/180-a-913-4043698/alan-kaplan 404-909-6000

Best HVAC Service

#1. Spencer Heating & Air Conditioning With over 30 years of experience, this locally owned company specializes in the installation, servicing and maintenance of heating and cooling systems for residential and commercial clients in northeast-metro Atlanta. They take pride in offering exceptional customer service, ensuring prompt and reliable repairs.

4708 S Old Peachtree Rd., Bldg. 200A spencerair.com 770-447-5289

#2. Premier HVAC Mechanical Corporation 6669 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Ste. N premierhvaccorp.com

770-696-4189

#3. Bardi Heating, Cooling, Plumbing 2100 Norcross Pkwy., Ste. 100, Norcross bardi.com

@Call_Bardi, 470-577-7933

Best Home Remodeler

#1. EV Remodeling EV is a professional remodeling company that offers a wide range of services for residential and commercial properties with expertise in home renovations, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, flooring, painting and more. They strive to deliver high-quality craftsmanship and exceptional customer satisfaction.

3906 Morris Ct. evremodelinginc.com

678-822-7573

#2. Romero’s Quality Construction

10580 Worthington Hills Manor, Roswell romerosconstructionllc.om 404-551-9141

#3. Southland Development Services southlanddevlopmentservices.com

770-560-3012

Best Private School (K-8)

#1. Cornerstone Christian Academy

Cornerstone is a school that provides a Christ-centered education for students from preschool through middle school, emphasizing academic excellence, spiritual development and the nurturing of character. They offer a supportive and enriching educational environment for students to thrive.

5295 Triangle Pkwy. NW cornerstonecougars.org

@CornerstoneCougars, 770-441-9222

#2. International Charter Academy of Georgia

3705 Engineering Dr. internationalcharteracademy.org

@InternationalCharterAcademyGA, 770-604-0007

#3. Notre Dame Academy

4635 River Green Pkwy., Duluth ndacademy.org

@NDAcademyGA, 678-387-9385

Best Private School (K-12)

#1. Wesleyan School

A renowned educational institution committed to cultivating the minds, hearts and spirits of students from kindergarten through high school, Wesleyan has a focus on academic excellence, character development and spiritual growth. They provide a nurturing and engaging environment where students can flourish and reach their full potential.

5405 Spalding Dr. wesleyanschool.org

@WesleyanInsta, 770-448-7640

#2. Greater Atlanta Christian School

1575 Indian Trail Rd., Norcross greateratlantachristian.org

@GASSpartans, 770-243-2000

#3. Notre Dame Academy

4635 River Green Pkwy., Duluth ndacademy.org

@NDAcademyGA, 678-387-9385

Best Youth Summer Camp

#1. Greater Atlanta Christian Summer Camps

Greater Atlanta Christian provides a great summer experience where kids can enjoy a balanced blend of play, learning and socializing in a safe and nurturing environment. With over 30 enriching programs covering athletics, arts, academics and fun, campers have the chance to make new friends, explore talents and create lasting memories.

1575 Indian Trail Rd., Norcross greateratlantachristian.org

@GASSpartans, 770-243-2000

#2. Wesleyan School

Summer Camps

5405 Spalding Dr. wesleyanschool.org

@WesleyanInsta, 770-448-7640

#3. Club SciKidz

atlanta.clubscikidz.com

@ClubScikidzCamp

Best Summer Camp (Kids Under 10)

#1. Wesleyan School

Summer Camps

For over 25 years, Wesleyan Summer Camps have made summer fun for all children. Camps range from arts to athletics, STEM to life skills, with morning, afternoon and full day programming for both day camps and specialty camps.

5405 Spalding Dr. wesleyanschool.org

@WesleyanInsta, 770-448-7640

#2. Club SciKidz

atlanta.clubscikidz.com

@ClubScikidzCamp

#3. Greater Atlanta Christian Summer Camps

1575 Indian Trail Rd., Norcross greateratlantachristian.org

@GASSpartans, 770-243-2000

Best Museum to Visit in Metro Atlanta

#1. High Museum of Art

Designed to meet audiences at the intersection of culture and community, this art museum is inspiring visitors in exciting ways. The High invites visitors to use the

museum as a place to discover new ideas, meet old friends and make new ones. Every visit is as unique as every visitor.

1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta high.org

@HighMuseumofArt, 404-733-4400

#2. Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center

2020 Clean Water Dr., Buford

@GwinnettGov, 770-904-3500

#3. Fernbank Museum

767 Clifton Rd., Atlanta fernbankmuseum.org

@FernbankMuseum, 404-929-6300

Best Theatre Venue in and Around Gwinnett County

#1. Aurora Theatre

Aurora Theatre is a thriving cultural hub that fosters a sense of belonging through its diverse shows and programming. This theater offers a wide range of theatrical productions, concerts, comedy shows, children’s programs and community events, all housed in a world-class facility.

128 East Pike St., Lawrenceville auroratheatre.com

@Aurora.Theatre, 678-226-6222

#2. Gas South Theatre

6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy., Duluth gassouthdistrict.com

@GasSouthDistrict, 770-813-7500

#3. Lionheart Theatre Company

10 College St., Norcross lionhearttheatre.org

@Lionheart.theatre, 404-919-4022

Best Local Hotel for Out of Town Guests

#1. Atlanta Marriott

Peachtree Corners

Experience genuine Southern hospitality at this hotel, conveniently located in Peachtree Corners. Enjoy the comfort of well-appointed rooms, on-site dining and more great amenities. With easy access to nearby attractions, this is the idea destination to unwind and explore without the hassle of city traffic.

475 Technology Pkwy. marriott.com

770-263-8558

#2. Hyatt Place Atlanta/ Norcross/Peachtree 5600 Peachtree Pkwy. hyatt.com

770-416-7655

#3. Crowne Plaza Atlanta NE — Norcross 6050 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. NW ihg.com, 770-448-4400

Best Place to Work (over 50 employees)

#1. Foresite Group

Foresite is a dynamic engineering, planning, design and consulting firm that collaboratively serves public and private sector clients nationwide. With a strong foundation built on core values, they prioritize client success, excellent service, dedicated professionals and a culture that fosters creativity and growth opportunities.

3740 Davinci Ct., Ste. 100 foresitegroup.net

@ForesiteGroup, 770-368-1399

#2. Siemens 3617 Parkway Ln. siemens.com

@Siemens, 770-326-2000

#3. Intuitive Surgical 5655 Spalding Dr. intuitive.com

@IntuitiveSurgical, 408-523-2100

#4. Brightree 125 Technology Pkwy. brightree.com

678-243-1800

#5. Pond & Company 3500 Parkway Ln., Ste. 500 pondco.com

@PondThrives, 677-336-7740

#6. Wesleyan School 5405 Spalding Dr. wesleyanschool.org

@WesleyanInsta, 770-448-7640

#7. Immucor 3130 Gateway Dr., PO Box 5626 immucor.com

@Immucor_Official, 770-441-2051

Most Desired Features and Attractions as Preferred by Locals and Visitors

#1. A community arts and culture center

#2. Immersive entertainment, like BeltLine’s Illuminarium, Sandbox VR or Chicken & Pickle

#3. A satellite college campus, like Georgia Tech #4. A major pickleball center

How To Succeed in Business Post-COVID

Local leaders share insights about today’s work world.

With the growth and development in the Peachtree Corners area, it’s easy to lose sight of the diverse businesses located here. The May 18 Peachtree Corners Business Association Business After Hours Speakers Series convened a panel of business owners and administrators to give their take on the current business climate. Moderated by Allison Reinert of ALR Marketing Solutions, the speaker panel was made up of Russell Reece, Atlanta office managing partner of Hancock & Askew; Marilyn Margolis, CEO of Emory Johns Creek Hospital; Matt Bettis,

director of marketing at Brightree; Sue Storck, general manager of The Forum on Peachtree Parkway; Diana Wheeler, community development director for the City of Peachtree Corners; and Darrell Creedon, owner of Diversified Resource Group.

Challenges and opportunities for change

For the first question, Reinert asked how businesses are adjusting to the current economy and the “postCOVID” world.

“On the retail side, the brick-andmortar retailers have definitely had to change their position,” responded Storck. “They’ve had to

By Arlinda Smith Broady Photos by Tracey Rice

change their way of doing business because so many people are not coming out. Buying online and picking up in store has really become very popular with many, many retailers because the customer can still get the merchandise and local stores are still able to gain their sales.”

“The good news is we had a lot of projects already in the works, so they didn’t miss a beat,” said Creedon. “Since people are going back to the office, for the most part, we’re still seeing a tremendous amount of activity, just maybe a slightly different picture.”

He added that instead of a room full of cubicles, there may be more breakout space and temporary spaces for employees who only come to the office occasionally.

“Our industry is really changing. Employees want different things now,” said Reece. “They have different ideas about what they’re doing, where they wanted to work. And we’ve seen a real contracting in the number of accounting students available for us to hire.”

With the decrease in the supply of accounting graduates, the demand is up in the workforce, so

wages are up as well.

“I think the opportunity is to embrace change and growth …and to figure out how to respond to those changes,” Reece continued. “We’ve seen a real acceleration in technology. We’ve just got to embrace AI; we can’t just do things the way we’ve always done them.”

The City of Peachtree Corners has seen the pause caused by the pandemic.

“Over the last couple of years, people slowed down. Then there was the supply chain issues …but we’re moving past that now,” said Wheeler. “Everything that should have happened gradually, methodically over the last three years is now in a compressed timeframe. We’re seeing a lot of accelerated growth — a lot of building permits and a lot of construction.”

She predicted that the City will continue to see a lot more building due to the pent-up demand. “People didn’t stop needing housing and jobs and other things,” Wheeler pointed out.

A healthcare perspective

Since Brightree is in the home

medical equipment industry, the COVID pandemic kept the business busy.

“Home medical equipment can be anything — wheelchairs, crutches, CPAP machines, diabetic supplies, anything like that — that will be used in the home,” said Bettis. “If I could wave a magic wand and say COVID never happened, I would. But since COVID happened, it was actually a positive for Brightree in that people were trying to get out of the hospital and get into the home.”

With more home equipment, navigating health insurance reimbursements can become more complicated. “That puts a little bit of pressure on these home medical equipment providers, because now there’s a lot more attention to detail on some of these reimbursements,” he said.

Hospitals had almost the complete opposite experience of everyone else, said Margolis.

“We were in hospital every day …having to worry about whether you’re going to get sick, whether your family is going to get sick. And if that happens, how are you going to care for patients?” Margo-

lis said.

“One of the things that became very clear was the need to have a family-oriented environment with a lot of engagement with the staff, a lot of cooperation with the community and making sure that we were able to provide what the staff needed, what the patients needed and what the families needed,” she added.

Another issue was that information changed pretty much daily. What was allowable one day may not be allowed the next. Procedures, policies and protocols were constantly changing. But when the government realized that hospitals needed funding for space, staff and equipment, Emory Johns Creek got $100 million to add two floors to the hospital.

“That’s 80 beds,” said Margolis. “We also added three floors to the medical office building suite to double our size.”

The post-COVID working mindset

One thing that all the panelists agreed upon is that the current generation of employees doesn’t

want the same things that the workforce of the past sought. They gave advice such as allowing for a healthy work/life balance.

“I had the mindset that probably will never change as a small business owner: I’m the first one in and the last one to leave. I had that expectation of my teammates, my employees. But I realized years ago that doesn’t always work,” said Creedon.

All the panelists agreed. Today, hybrid work situations and flexible work schedules have become standard.

“The new generation doesn’t want to work every day. They want to work for a couple of days, and then go do something else,”

said Margolis. “When I talk to my grandkids, they don’t care about our retirement benefits. They just care how much money is going to go into their pocket.”

Even though salaries are important, every one of the panelists mentioned that strong, positive, nurturing work relationships are just as important.

Regarding her team at the Forum, Storck said, “My whole philosophy is: if you can’t have fun and laugh during the day while you’re at work, you need to go someplace else. We’re a very close-knit team. …And if we can’t have fun while we’re working, we’re not going to have successful events.” ■

Left to right, Sue Storck, Darrell Creedon, Russell Reece, moderater Allison Reinert, Diana Wheeler, Matt Bettis, Marilyn Margolis, Lisa Proctor

Gas South District Expansion, Construction Completed

The $200 million renovation has increased greenspace, seating, workspace and artistic touches.

As Gwinnett County grows, the options for event spaces have also grown. To give business owners a progress report on the changes, Stan Hall, chief executive officer of the Gwinnett Convention & Visitors Bureau — also known as Explore Gwinnet — discussed what’s new at the April 27 Peachtree Corners Business Association Business After Hours event.

Gas South District

In addition to his many duties

By Arlinda Smith Broady

throughout the county, Hall oversees the operations of Gas South District. Gas South District is a 118-acre campus in Duluth built to accommodate a variety of events such as concerts, performances, meetings, trade shows, conventions, banquets and celebrations. The multipurpose campus includes:

■ Gas South Arena, with 13,000 seats,

■ Gas South Theater, with 708 seats, and

■ Gas South Convention Center, a 90,000-square-foot exhibit hall with 23 meeting rooms and a 21,600-square-foot ballroom.

The expansion of Gas South Convention Center and the addition of a new headquarters hotel in the Gas South District are highlights of a multi-year plan to improve the destination’s ability to host a wider variety of events.

Hall encouraged local businesses and stakeholders to check out

the improvements of one of the most impressive facilities in the metropolitan Atlanta region.

The Exhibit Hall, the primary convention space, now boasts new meeting rooms with builtin screens, projectors and audio systems. There is also a junior ballroom and outdoor event space surrounding the venue. Proof of the Pudding, the in-house caterer, has consistently been named Atlanta’s best and the new fast-casual food hall will make it easy for attendees to grab a hot coffee, brick oven pizza or a healthy lunch, according to Explore Gwinnett.

The renovation also includes new lighting, audio-visual and technology enhancements, group seating, workspaces, public art and an open airy, design. Fronting the Gas South District is the new Gateway Park, which will provide easy access to the surrounding hotels.

Safety first

Gas South District has maintained its commitment to health and safety protocols with Global Biorisk Advisory Council Star accreditation. This recognition is the ‘gold standard” for venues and

facilities that have met and exceeded the most stringent cleaning and safety disease prevention protocols.

“The well-being and safety of our clients, guests and staff are always our top priority,” Hall said.

“We are following strict protocols that allow us to operate in a clean and healthy environment.”

The last portion of the plan to be completed is the Westin Hotel adjacent to the Convention Center. It is touted as a 348-room, four-star facility poised to serve as the Convention Center’s headquarters hotel. The expected opening date is March 2024.

The hotel will feature an additional 17,000 square feet of conference space with 13 meeting rooms, a rooftop bar, Starbucks and open greenspace, connecting the hotel to the Convention Center. ■

costs $70M Convention Center improvements $20M public outdoor gathering spaces and trails $75M Westin Hotel $32M

two parking decks totaling 3,200 spaces

Opposite page, Gas South District Left, the Westin Hotel rendering Bottom left, an updated exhibit hall

Above, A map of the Gas South District

Business Organizations and Events

Southwest Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce

107 Technology Parkway, Peachtree Corners 30092 southwestgwinnettchamber.com

SWGC First Friday Breakfast

Fridays, June 2, July 14, 7:30-9 a.m.

Hilton Atlanta Northeast

5993 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Peachtree Corners

Admission: $28 for members, $35 for non-members

On June 2, Jennifer Hibbard, CEO of View Point Health discusses the program and other mental health needs in the county and state. July’s ‘First’ Friday will be held a week later than usual and features the Annual Mayors Panel.

SWGC Coffee Connections / Spotlight Series

Thursdays, June 8, 15, 29; July 20, 27, 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Admission: free for SWGC members and visitors

Meet up with local business professionals over coffee. Meetings are normally held in the large meeting space behind the SWGC office at Atlanta Tech Park.

On June 15, Coffee Connections Spotlight Series will feature Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King. The July 20 Coffee Connections will focus on Narcan Training.

Peachtree Corners Business Association

4989 Peachtree Parkway, Peachtree Corners 678-969-3385 | peachtreecornersba.com

PCBA Connecting Over Coffee Morning Meetup

Tuesdays, June 13, July 11, August 8, 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, 5215 Town Center Blvd., Peachtree Corners

Admission: free for PCBA members and their guests; register online as space is limited.

Meet with other PCBA and business professionals over coffee in a positive atmosphere on the second Tuesday of the month. Business cards will be shared with all attendees.

PCBA Business After Hours / Speaker Series

Thursdays, June 22, July 27, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

June 22 – Kettlerock Brewing

6025 Peachtree Pkwy., Peachtree Corners

Admission: $35. Advanced registration is $25 for members and $30 for guests; includes appetizers and drinks.

The next Speaker Series event is scheduled for July 27; please watch the website for featured guest and location.

PCBA Lunch Club

Make

a Difference: Volunteer with Project Kids Eat

Friday, June 9, 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Campus Church

1525 Indian Trail Rd., Norcross

The SWGC will work side by side with the organizers of PROJECT KIDS EAT (PKE) to pack and deliver meals to local children who go without regular meals when school is not in session. Register though the SWGC website.

Networking@Night

Thursday, June 22, 7 p.m.

Coolray Field

2500 Buford Dr., Lawrenceville

Join SWGC for a fun-filled summertime event at the Gwinnett Stripers vs. Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp game.

Rotary Club of Peachtree Corners

Norcross Cultural Arts & Community Center 10 College Street, Norcross 30071 peachtreecornersrotary.org

Rotary Club Meetings

Mondays, June 5 and 12, 12-1 p.m.

Special guests speak at some meetings. Upcoming meetings feature Joe Conner from ELAM on the State of Affairs in Iran on June 5 and Tom Branch and Dr. Audrey Arona of GNR Health on June 12. Meetings will be suspended after that for summer vacation.

Rotary Banquet

Thursday, June 22, 6-9 p.m.

The Crossing Steakhouse 40 S. Peachtree St., Norcross

Wednesday, June 28; Thursday, July 20; Wednesday, August 16, 11:30-1:30 a.m. Check online for locations.

Open to PCBA members and their guests. Online registration is required. Meet up with PCBA members for an enjoyable way to network and save 15% off your lunch check.

Atlanta Tech Park

107 Technology Parkway, Peachtree Corners 404-797-1221 | atlantatechpark.com

Atlanta Tech Meet Up

Tuesdays, June 6, August 1, 6-9 p.m.

The monthly meet up, sponsored by Resolvit, is held on the first Tuesday of every month in the Atlanta Tech Park Café. It’s a great opportunity for anyone to network and join a good group of people discussing anything related to technology.

Gwinnett Women’s Chamber Presents: Tech Talks

Fridays, July 16, July 21, 12-2 p.m.

The group meets every third Friday of the month. Visit gwinnettwomenschamber.com for updates.

Summer Cook Outs

Tuesdays, June 20, July 25, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Two opportunities this summer to enjoy burgers, ice cream and community.

Summer Reading Recommendations

Asummer day spent lounging by the pool, relaxing at the beach or chilling on the deck at home is best enjoyed with a good book. We’ve gathered some suggestions for a summer read from friends and neighbors around Peachtree Corners.

To Kill A Mockingbird by

To Kill A Mockingbird is a book that nearly everyone reads at some point in school, and everyone should read it (at least twice). It’s based on a real trial from Harper Lee’s childhood. While the theme is based in the 1930s, some of the messages are still applicable today. I especially loved the symbolism of the mockingbird throughout the story.

The perfect YA romance series for your summer reading list. Love triangles, competition and dystopia combined. Plus, it’s a five-book series that will keep your TBR [to be read] full all summer!

The book Confessions of a Shopaholic is a great read. While there is a movie, the book is very different. It’s an easy read, funny, romantic and well-written. And there’s a full series to follow!

Where

This book is one of my all-time favorites — amazingly written and brings tears to my eyes. The movie will also not disappoint; it’s com-

pletely book-accurate and just as amazing. A beautiful story, exceptionally written.

Heartless by Marissa Meyer

Heartless is a romantic and heartbreaking YA fantasy. Full of plot twists, this book will keep you guessing. It also includes some hidden lessons that can apply to real life. You’ll definitely want to read it again and again!

I love the We Are Legion series by Dennis E. Taylor. That is a series of four books that explore interesting concepts about survival in space. The details in the book really take the reader into the sci-fi realm. If you like to nerd out about space, this book is for you.

1984 and Animal Farm by George Orwell are great reads. They demonstrate the importance of keeping the government in check as citizens. They are frightening at times because of how some of the book’s ideas are coming true today. Another great read is Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. This book is also frightening to read at times due to its predictions. It speaks on how the pursuit of pleasure can lead to a lack of humanity. It also shows the direction we, as a society, might be moving towards.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver

Barbara Kingsolver eloquently details the importance of eating and shopping locally, especially for food in Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. She weaves the personal stories of her family with the health, economic and environmental realities of local agriculture. An engaging and informative read!

I am addicted to his novels, and he is such an amazing person with a foundation that encourages kids to read.

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki

This is a feel-good read and is a great introduction into Historical Fiction for anyone who has been thinking about giving it a try. It’s based on the very true life of Marjorie Post and how she became one of the most powerful businesswomen, and one of the richest people, in America in the early 20th century. Although there are certain to be some liberties taken throughout the book, TMLOMP still hits all the key moments and markers in Marjorie’s life that make her such a fascinating person. One of my top reads of 2023 so far!

For Middle School readers, my favorite read of the year so far is The Midnight Children by Dan Gemeinhart. The Midnight Children tells the story of a lonely boy who finds himself in the middle of a mysterious situation. What I love is how he is able to make brave choices and change his life for the better. It has adventure,

Compiled by Rico Figliolini Put into good form by Kathy Dean

Harper Lee

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

— Anastasia Lamas, Wesleyan School, Class of 2027

Simply Lies by David Baldacci

— Lorri Christopher, City Council Post 5 / At Large

— Dane Scott, Dane Scott Racing

— Lindsay Schwartz, Director of Marketing, Music Matters Productions

— Joe Twiner, Executive Director, Peachtree Farm

humor and suspense — perfect for middle schoolers.

My favorite High School read of the year In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner. Two teens, both children of poverty and opioid culture make an impressive scientific discovery. Through a combination of luck and brilliance, they are offered a chance to escape their circumstances — but that means leaving family behind.

I love these two characters; they have to make adult decisions early in life. There are no obvious right answers here; real life is hard, but these two have a strength of character you will love.

This is a WWII Historical novel with several male and female protagonists who have their own agendas for becoming involved in a spy operation. I am finding it hard to put down.

er clues to find out why a formerly popular girl is now the pariah of her new school.

I loved this book because it was a fast-paced, fun and clever read. I’ve now given it to my 12-year-old daughter because I know she’ll love it and I think it’s important that she read it. The message is one I think girls need to hear and understand long before they reach high school.

Meant to Be by Emily Giffin

This is a delightful yet deep romance about a son of American royalty who falls in love with a beautiful girl who comes from a troubled past. The story centers on whether their relationship will survive the glare of the spotlight and the tragedy that seems to run in his family.

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor

How to Win Friends and Influence

People by Dale Carnegie

I first picked up Dale Carnegie’s masterpiece when I was 12 years old. There isn’t a better book on working with people! I now use its principles to help advocate for my organization’s work that benefits the poor around the world.

I believe Towles’ best book is A Gentleman in Moscow. It’s an incredible story set in a luxury hotel in Moscow about a former Russian nobleman sentenced to live there after the Bolshevik Revolution. As a starter to feasting on his three full-length novels, I recommend The Lincoln Highway. It’s a modern-day Odyssey that spans just 10 days in the summer of 1954 rather than the 10 years traveled by Ulysses.

Starting in a farm town almost in the geographical center of the U.S., a young man and his brother travel along the Lincoln Highway to retrieve his small inheritance stolen by a “friend” from his reform school. While not a short book, it flows quickly and has fascinating characters, action and plot twists.

I loved this book, as inspired by the real-life story of John F. Kennedy, Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, because I was able to experience both the intrigue and angst that comes with being an American celebrity, and I also enjoyed imagining what could’ve been, had their lives not

tion of a young Putin regime and ultimately becomes his number one enemy.

A financial caper, crime thriller and political crusade, Red Notice is an absolutely fantastic read that will inform you about events that led to modern day Russia.

— Scott Hilton, Georgia State House of Representatives

Perfectly Wounded by Mike Day

An excellent book about the service members who protect

our country and suffer the consequences of doing so.

— Cliff Bramble, Bramble Realty

The BFG by Roald Dahl — for kids

This is one of my favorite books to read aloud. Roald Dahl’s magical way of telling a story is so engaging, and his made-up words are hilarious to try and pronounce.

How to Stop Time by Matt Haig — for adults

ended so tragically.

— Shannon Balloon, Wesleyan Artist Market

Red Notice by Bill Browder

This book is an incredibly compelling and timely book that tells the true story of a hedge fund manager in Russia after the break-up of the Soviet Union. Bill Browder witnesses firsthand the corrup-

Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice

…or any of the Anne Rice novels!

—

What Happened to Rachel Riley?

by Claire Swinarski

This middle grade novel is about an eighth grader who uses social media posts, passed notes and oth-

Haig has a wonderful way of putting emotions and feelings into words. I loved how the main character continued learning life

lessons as he lived through so many historical eras.

— Lacey Unger, 3rd grade teacher, Simpson Elementary School

— Bonnie Baker, Library Media Specialist, Greater Atlanta Christian

— James Flanagan, Executive Director, Catholic World Mission

James Chien, Chef, Eating Americana

Dragonfly by Leila Meacham

— Jennifer Howard, City of Peachtree Corners

Towles

— Steve Hughes, Chief Financial Officer, Skitter, Inc.

SUMMER READING! HERE’S TO

Our friendly staff at the Peachtree Corners branch brainstormed their top picks for your summer reading lists!

FOR ADULTS:

Remembered

by Yvonne Battle-Felton

The House of the Spirits by Isabella

Allende Kaikeyi

by Vaishnavi Patel

The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict

Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim

FOR KIDS:

Chu’s Day at the Beach by Neil

Gaiman

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew

Daywalt

The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don

Wood

gwinnettpl.org

I Must Have Bobo by Eileen

Rosanthal

The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia

Sarcone-Roach

Most people I know wish they could have more time in their day. Dr. Loehr and his work at the Human Performance Institute helps us instead get more day in our time.

The Power of Full Engagement teaches lessons learned from performance psychology and human performance that can help anyone from the c-suite to the street do more of their best work and live more of their best life, regardless of how much time or work they have. This should be required reading for life!

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir

In this complex young adult novel, two teenagers struggle with the many realities of becoming an adult, as well as the challenges they face from all who inhabit their lives. From stages of grief to the difficulties of forgiveness and the many layers of family sacrifice, Sabaa Tahir truly delivers a fresh take on American realities from an outsider’s perspective.

By looking directly at humanity through a multicolored lens, Tahir creates a reading experience that you’ll not soon forget.

all wonderful authors of historical fiction.

on business. This book goes beyond leadership in business and includes other key areas of life including marriage, family and finances.

This is Carley’s newest book, and it is the perfect summer read. I fell in love with this author after reading her book Every Summer After last year and have been waiting for this one to come out. She did not disappoint!

This book captures the summer lake setting perfectly and I love the two timelines of each character as the story unfolds and the reader gets closer to figuring out what separated them to begin with.

Picking a single book that shaped my life would be an impossible task. I have learned over time to enjoy the discovery of new and old titles to keep the adventures fresh.

■ Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger is a fantasy series that follows a strong female lead who discovers she is not human.

■ From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks is realistic fiction story about 12-year-old Zoe who receives a letter from her biological father who is in prison.

■ Canyon’s Edge by Dusty Bowling is a novel in verse about a young girl’s struggle for survival after a climbing trip with her father goes terribly wrong.

■ Front Desk by Kelly Yang takes place in the 90s and is based loosely on Kelly Yang’s experience growing up as an immigrant in America.

■ Rescue by Jennifer Nielson is a World War II story of espionage and intrigue, as one girl races to save her father and aid the French resistance.

■ Also, Alan Gratz, Marsha Skrypuck and Jennifer Nielson are

Know

Change by

Every year people talk about what makes us different: race, economics, nationality and even gender. The leaders of the “One Race” movement frames up a spiritually inspired path to reconciliation through Christ.

Know Own Change is a spiritual change management book that can have an impact individually on your walk with God and as a society if his followers stop sitting on the sidelines, asking and watching and instead start doing His work to change this world right here at home.

Reading is incredibly important, particularly in a world where misand dis-information spread like wildfire with just a simple tweet. Fahrenheit 451 is set in a dystopian world where reading is banned and social bonds between people have become almost nonexistent. I read this when I was younger and it had a major impact on me to this day because its social commentary continues to be relevant as time goes on.

Someone gave this book to me, and it caught my attention because the author has over 60 years of leadership experience. During that time, any leader most likely would have gone through many different trials and challenges, and I’m interested in hearing about the wisdom he has gained.

Many leadership books have been written and a lot of them focus

Outlive: The Art and Science of Longevity by Peter Attia

Younger Next Year for Women by Chris Crowley and Henry S. Lodge

I’m predominately a non-fiction reader and I’m back in grad school studying Gerontology, so my selections may seem boring but could be of interest to readers who want to learn how to be pro-aging instead of anti-aging. After all, who doesn’t want to be a pro at aging?

The Power of Full Engagement by Dr. Jim Loehr

— Travis Dommert, talent professional and speaker, TravisDommert.com

Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune

— Clara Rooks , Marketing Communications Manager, Explore Gwinnett

— Judith Boneta, 8th Grade Language Arts teacher, Duluth Middle School

— Allison Anderson, Elementary Media Specialist, Greater Atlanta Christian School

Own

Josh Clemons and Hazen Stevens

— Karl Barham, President, Transworld Business Advisors

The Effective Leader by Ronald E. Cottle

— Phil Sadd, City Council Post 1 / District 1

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

— Ruwa Romman, Georgia State Representative

This Chair Rocks by Ashton Applewhit

These well-written, lay-person-friendly books comprise some of the latest research on how to live longer, healthier lives and prevent diseases commonly associated with aging. Now for a shameless plug: one way to start living your best life is get moving, stay active and sign up for the Light Up The Corners Glow Run at The Forum on August 12th!

Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro is a great fiction novel about the impact of a lie; the book is told from multiple points of view and weaves back in forth in time.

Age of Vice by Deepti Kapoors — Set in India, it’s a thriller that dives deep into the underworld of New Delhi’s crime syndicate. This will most certainly be seen on streaming platform before long!

Whatever Happened to Ruthy Ramirez? by Claire Jimeniz is a great beach book. Humor, mystery, drama all in one.

Exodus by Leon Uris

Exodus is one of the best-selling historical novels of all time and one of the most powerful books I’ve ever read. It is not light reading and will take readers on a very emotional journey. This novel goes well beyond what Hollywood portrays in the movie and does so with a much more accurate lens of the events it covers. It not only broadens the reader’s knowledge of history, but also deepens their understanding and background of current world events.

While Exodus sheds light on one of the greatest human tragedies, it also highlights hope and perseverance. I highly recommend it be on everyone’s book bucket list.

The Day the World Came to Town by Jim DeFede

When the U.S. airspace was closed on 9-11, 38 passenger planes were forced to land in a small town in Canada on Newfoundland Island. The townspeople welcomed the weary travelers — over 6,500 people from all over the world — into their homes for four days. The acts of kindness, humanity and goodwill in this true story will touch your heart.

The author is a future forecaster and game designer who works at the Institute for the Future in California. She led simulations in 2008 that predicted what would happen if there were a global outbreak of a respiratory virus with uncanny accuracy to what actually happened with COVID-19. That’s fascinating since many news stories claimed that COVID-19 was “unimaginable” or “unthinkable.”

For science-fiction fans (or even those who may not think themselves fans), two of my all-time favorites are Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke and Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. These are both classics in the genre. Rama is particularly fun as a crew from Earth explore a huge unknown object that has approached our planet. Ender is a young man trained by the government to help fight a hostile alien force trying to take over the planet. Pure escapist fun!

A second suggestion for a book I enjoyed reading recently is Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. It’s been on the best-seller list since it was published and is a compelling and very well-written story. Truthfully, it is not an easy read from an emotional standpoint. Just when you think that things can’t get any worse for Demon, they do. The characters are well-defined and the story provides insight into some of the real-world problems afflicting the Appalachian region.

One of my favorites for light reading is G.A. McKevett’s Savannah Reid series. There are many books in this series and if you order on Kindle, the older books are free.

In the first book, Just Desserts, we meet the main character — blackbelt and gun-carrying Savannah living in a plush suburb of San Carmelita, California. She’s a voluptuous private investigator who was born in Georgia to a mama who dropped in to have babies and dropped out once the babies were born. All the kids are named after Georgia towns, and their sweet Grandmama is Savannah’s moral compass who raised all these kids.

Savannah is busy being a super solver of crimes while frying up the best-fried chicken ever. Walk into her kitchen anytime and she will have her brain at work on solving the latest murder as she whips up something sweet.

— Zhenia Kaplan

The Broker by John Grisham

The Broker is a suspense novel that weaves mystery, corruption and possible murder as you navigate through the legal system, the politics of pardons and the influence of the CIA. This page turner keeps you guessing who will win in the end. Perfect reading for the beach or sitting by the pool.

These simulations can be used in your own life to imagine the future and you are able to “see” the future using the exercises she provides. When the future arrives, you feel prepared because you’ve already thought about what you would do if the “unimaginable” actually happened. Not only is it very interesting to read about the psychology and neuroscience being used to solve world problems, but there is a direct application to your own life.

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir

The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow & Liz Lawson

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys

These three titles represent some of the most popular YA books for teen readers — Georgia Peach Book Award Nominees. All My Rage is on every “it” list right now. Tahir takes the reader on a journey through family, forgiveness, love and loss across generations.

— Amy Massey, founder, Light Up The Corners

— Dave Huffman, Peachtree Corners Festival

— Lisa Anders, Executive Director, Explore Gwinnett Tourism + Film

— Nancy Minor, Agent, The Nancy Minor Team

— Lisa Proctor, Sanford Rose Associates – Lake Lanier Islands

Imaginable by Jane McGonigal

— Tracey R. Rice, Tracey Rice Photography

The Agathas will be your favorite murder mystery that you cannot put down as you try to solve the case in this Agatha Christie inspired mystery. I Must Betray You is a historical thriller about communist Romania and a citizen spy looking to expose the truth.

— Lorraine McCullough and Lauren Hagey, Media Specialists, Norcross High School

10 Favorite Top Picks for Business Leaders

Suggested by Travis Dommert

■ Essentialism: The disciplines pursuit of less by Greg McKeown — in a culture of more (and overwhelm), we need a new skill set: the disciplined pursuit of less, but better.

■ Crucial Conversations by Joseph Grenny, Karry Peterson, et al — gold standard in skills training for anyone who needs to get along with other humans (That’s all of us!).

■ Spark: The revolutionary new science of exercise and the brain by Dr. John Ratey — mind-blowing research that shows the impact movement and exercise has on our mental health.

■ The 100X Leader by Jeremie Kubicek and Steve Cockram — a powerful leadership book built on the idea of becoming a leader worth following who is 100% healthy and multiplies.

■ The Challenger Sale by Matthew Dixon and Brent Adamson — terrific insights from successful salespeople from the Great Recession.

■ Outliers: The story of success by Malcolm Gladwell — seminal book about extraordinary achievement.

■ The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle — fascinating look at the science of skill-building and what it takes to become great at something.

■ Never Finished by David Goggins — deep look into the mindset of Navy SEAL warrior David Goggins after he became famous.

■ The Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath — profound look into why we only remember a tiny fraction of our lives and how to make powerful memories.

■ Living with a SEAL by Jesse Itzler — fun book about Sarah Blakely’s husband hiring a Navy SEAL to train him for a month; it’s nuts!

After completing an externship with Peachtree Corners back in the fall of 2022, Abbey joined our team knowing that we want to build up our passion about patient care with additional caring Veterinarians. She will be Accepting New Clients starting June 2023. Dr. Parsons' is a graduate of the University of Georgia Veterinary School. Her passion is being able to help her community and interact with owners! She feels strongly that pets are members of the family and if she can help maintain those relationships, she feels like she has done the job. She loves spending time with her yellow lab mix Kali and her two cats Tito & Kronk, which she spoils rotten (as they should be).

Peachtree Corners Business Association Announces Annual Scholarship Winners

The Peachtree Corners Business Association (PCBA) has announced its 2023 Scholarship winners: Zoe Hanson of Norcross High School and Sasha Tarassenko of Paul Duke STEM High School.

Hanson was awarded $1,000 at PCBA’s April 27 Business After Hours event. Tarassenko will receive the $1,000 award at the organization’s May 18 Business After Hours Event.

Zoe Hanson has been accepted to the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and will be studying Fashion Business Management.

“Pursuing the things I love has been a driving force throughout my life, one in which I intend on maintaining by following my dream of having a successful career in the fashion industry,” Hanson said. She shared that “it is important to be adaptive when faced with new difficult situations,” and stated that she is looking forward to seeing what the future will be.

Sasha Tarassenko plans to major in Sociology and Flute Performance with hopes of continuing her research on under representation in classical music education and industry, sparked by the AP Capstone program at the Paul Duke STEM High School and her interest in the performing arts.

“The PCBA Scholarship program is an integral part of our PCBA Community Outreach program,” said Lisa Proctor, PCBA President. “We are so fortunate to be able to continue to invest in our future. The PCBA has awarded 17 scholarships over the last 10 years, and I continue to be so impressed with these outstanding scholarship winners.” ■

Left to right, Audrey Boyce, PCBA Community Outreach; Toby Anderson, PCBA Board; Suzanna Martinez, PCBA Board; Allison Reinert, PCBA Board; Lisa Proctor, PCBA Board; Zoe Hanson, Scholarship Winner; Donna Linden, PCBA Board; and Michael Pugh, PCBA Board

Left to right: Monte McDowell, PCBA Outreach; Matt Bettis, PCBA Outreach; Suzanna Martinez, PCBA Board; Sasha Tarassenko, Scholarship Winner; Lisa Proctor, PCBA Board; Allison Reinert, PCBA Board; Donna Linden, PCBA Board; Audrey Boyce, PCBA Outreach

State Officials Discuss 2023 Legislative Session

Representatives Scott Hilton and Ruwa Romman address changes made by Georgia General Assembly.

bill that is attempting to close the literacy gap.

“Right now, based on some estimates, as little as 40% of Georgia students don’t know how to read, or at least don’t know how to read well,” said Romman.

Hilton said he was happy to see that state legislators set priorities to pass a balanced budget that returns $3 billion back to taxpayers in the form of property tax relief. He also mentioned the income tax refunds that will soon be coming — $350 for single filers and $500 for couples.

He also mentioned the $2,000 pay raise for teachers. “The state of Georgia now has one of the highest pay rates for teachers in the southeast — and that’s a big deal. Education is having a hard time finding good quality teachers right now. And so, again, we’re putting our money where our mouth is,” said Hilton.

With just 40 days to wrap up its 2023 legislative session, the Georgia General Assembly got a lot of work done this year. To keep local constituents abreast of what passed — and just as importantly what didn’t — two area legislators, Rep. Scott Hilton, House District 48 and Rep. Ruwa Romman, House District 97, met with members of

By Arlinda Smith Broady

the Peachtree Corners Business Association and Southwest Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce recently.

A banker by profession, Hilton said it’s kind of ironic that he’s on a committee for creative arts and entertainment. But he also sits on committees for education, healthcare, market oversight and urban affairs.

With a master’s degree in public policy, Romman said she has been able to “merge that business and policy understanding really well.” She’s on committees for energy utility and telecommunications, interstate affairs and information audits.

Photos by Bruce Johnson

Both pointed out significant pieces of legislation that they were involved in.

Some successes

“There is a lot of good legislation that I love, but sometimes they have bad unintended consequences,” said Romman. “One of those was House Bill 73, which was meant to be a consumer protection bill related to solar panels.”

She said that the way the bill would have been implemented would have created a completely different office than already exists.

“We’re working on revising it now for next session,” she said. “We want to make sure that, because this whole industry is so new, we don’t accidentally hinder it as an industry.”

Both Hilton and Romman were proud of House Bill 538, a literacy

And some disappointments

One letdown for Hilton was Senate Bill 233.

“It basically said: if you’re in a failing school — in the bottom 25%, failing on every metric of reading, math, etc. — that the parent can take their student out and qualify for an education savings account,” he said. “So you get to keep the state portion of what your schools are funded by your local state taxes state and a little bit of federal.”

That means parents could pull their kids from the school, send them wherever they want and get an education savings account for $6,500.

Even though private schools in the area tend to run well above $6,500 for a year’s tuition, Hilton rationalized that it would take a significant bite out of the cost. Rom-

From left to right, Matt Myers, Norcross city councilman/mayor pro tem; Rep. Scott Hilton, House District 48; and Rep. Ruwa Romman, House District 97.

man, however, wasn’t in favor of the bill and was glad that it didn’t pass.

“The reason that some of us opposed this bill is because there was absolutely no mechanism to ensure that the $6,500 is being used on educational purposes. And the average that we spend per child is much less than $6,500,” said Romman. “And last but not least, those in my district would not actually qualify for this in any way, shape or form because none of our schools qualify for it.”

One bill that didn’t pass was kind of perplexing to Hilton. Of the 50 states, Georgia is the only one that doesn’t outlaw game cockfighting. He thought it would be a no-brainer to introduce legislation to ban this bloody sport, but it didn’t go anywhere.

“It made me realize we live in a very big state,” said Hilton. “It’s a really violent kind of disgusting activity. So that’s a bill that I’m going to go back to and work on.”

More work to do

Even though the session is over for the year, state officials are still at work.

“Our duties don’t stop. We’re still working constituent services; we’re still attending events like this one. We’ve literally had meetings with people who want to talk policy,” said Hilton.

The 40 legislative days go by quickly and there isn’t a lot of time

to meet with people who have concerns and want to see laws enacted to address them.

“I know I drive my colleagues crazy, but I really do care about the specifics of the bill,” Hilton said. “It’s not about perfectionism; my spectrum is from perfect to very harmful. If a bill is neutral, or at least does some good, I don’t care that it’s not

■ School systems will be required to teach high-quality instructional materials approved by the State Board of Education in grades kindergarten through third grade.

■ The Department of Education must develop and provide training to kindergarten through third-grade teachers on the science of reading, so teachers have the skills and knowledge to teach young students to read. Students across the state will take a universal reading screener assessment to monitor their progress in

grants to make our schools safer, providing $50,000 per school to enhance safety at each facility in the state.

HB 19 — FY 24 Budget

■ $13 billion in state K-12 funding, fully funding the state’s commitments.

■ $2,000 pay raise for teachers, bringing average teacher salaries to $61,000, the highest in the southeast.

HB 162 — Income tax credit

■ Returns taxpayer funds to Georgians by providing a one-time income tax refund equal to the lesser of either the taxpayer’s 2021 income tax liability or $250 for a taxpayer filing as single, $375 for a taxpayer filing as head of household or $500 for a married couple jointly filing a return.

HB 528 — Georgia Online Automatic Renewal Transparency Act

■ Protects Georgians online by requiring that companies have a clear and conspicuous method of cancellation online if the company also allows consumers to accept an automatic renewal or continuous service online.

Passed bills

These are bills that passed that were authored by Rep. Scott Hilton and signed by Gov. Brian Kemp.

HB 402 — Edna Mae McGovern Act

Named after Edna Mae McGovern, a young girl who tragically drowned in a family swimming pool. Requires each public school to provide parents, or students over 18, with information on water safety education.

HB 219

good enough. But if a bill starts to go into that spectrum of harmful or potentially bad or redundant or wasteful spending, I tend to say ‘No, we should really reconsider this bill.’”

Rep. Scott Hilton addressed the PCBA by himself and highlighted several bills that stood out:

HB 538 — Georgia Early Literacy Act

■ ‘Georgia Early Literacy Act’ to implement the science of reading in Georgia.

foundational literacy skills.

■ The Department of Early Care and Learning must require teachers in all programs licensed or commissioned by the department to receive training on developmentally appropriate evidence-based literacy instruction by July 1, 2025.

HB 18 — Amended FY 23 Budget

■ $1 billion in property tax relief grants for Georgia taxpayers with an estimated $500 of relief for every homeowner.

■ $138.8 million in school security

Changes the venue for prosecuting financial crimes to where the victim resides (Georgia) rather than where the criminal is located.

HB 453

Eliminates burdensome red tape and excess fees on our Ambulance and EMS providers in Georgia, saving them resources to deliver life-saving treatment to Georgians. ■

More Than a Bike Race

Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners Criterium was an opportunity to showcase technology and strengthen community partnerships.

To the casual observer, Curiosity Lab Criterium was an exciting event where local cyclists got the chance to race unfettered along a challenging course on the streets of Peachtree Corners. It was also an opportunity for cycling aficionados to see worldclass professionals up close.

If that weren’t enough, specta-

By Arlinda Smith Broady

tors also witnessed the dawn of a new technology that will make roadways safer for bicyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists and other vulnerable road users.

“We got the opportunity to host a U.S. criterion here as part of Speedweek and it’s the first one we’ve ever done,” said Louis Svehla, communications director with the City of Peachtree Corners. “We have this lab and we’re one of the smartest

Photos by Roxy Stone, Tytan Pictures

cities in the world. …To be able to bring technology to protect cyclists, scooters, walkers, kids going to school, this is the perfect environment. As part of this race, we were testing some really cool technology. …It’s the first time it’s ever been tested in real time, and everybody gets to be a part of that.”

But that wasn’t all it was about.

Speed Week 2023

It was a showcase of the strength of collaboration that Peachtree Corners has cultivated from its inception. It’s that kind of passion and determination to be among the best in smart technology incubation that led Clearwave Fiber to become an elite sponsor of a leg of the Speed Week 2023 in the Southeast United States.

The weeklong event kicked off

in Athens and wrapped up in the Airport District in the Southern Crescent of metro Atlanta. For the first time, Peachtree Corners represented the Northern Arc of metro Atlanta on April 26.

Derrick Grissom, general manager for Clearwave Fiber here in metro Atlanta, was excited for his company to be part of something so major. The company currently offers high-speed secure fiber internet services to businesses in Peachtree Corners, Norcross, Lawrenceville and Covington. Although it’s headquartered in Savannah, the footprint goes from Jacksonville, Florida, through central Georgia, up into Illinois and the Kansas City market.

Although Clearwave Fiber doesn’t directly involve cycling, the technology showcased is reliant on the type of technology the

company provides. When Grissom learned the city was hosting the competition, he said it was a no-brainer for Clearwave to partner with them.

“Number one, we knew it was their first time doing it. Number two, it’s just a great partnership and and we believe that community is what really brings people together,” he said. “So having that tight knit relationship with the city, not just from a business standpoint but anytime, shows how great the relationship is.”

Clearwave Fiber

Although T-Mobile powers the 5G technology at Curiosity Lab, it’s Clearwave Fiber in the infrastructure. Grissom explained T-Mobile often uses Clearwave Fiber to reach cell towers.

“We provide fiber to their cell towers so it can produce the technology needed for you to use your T-Mobile cell phone, if you have that service,” he said. “They’re not so much a competitor as a client.”

But Clearwave Fiber also has its own network. “We’re just like AT&T or Comcast, but we’re just a much smaller version,” he said.

Although it may seem like all communications companies are alike, Grissom said there are differences.

“Right now, one of the most important things in the telecom industry is security,” he said. “If you were in one of our residential footprint areas, or even our commercial footprint areas, an advantage of having Clearwave Fiber is that we do offer a more secure underground network.”

“And we’re a local partner. I think that’s what differentiates us from our competitors,” Grissom added.

Criterium Results

Although the weather was cold and rainy, 200 to 250 spectators showed up for the inaugural event.

To review the complete results for pro and amateur races, go to livelynxresults.com and click on 2023 Speedweek Peachtree Corners. ■

Scan the QR Code to get race complete race results. Flip the page for main results.

Criterium Race Results, Top Placements

Men Category 4/5 – 19 Racers

First – Kalson Smith – Cadence Devo

Second – Emilio Schumann

Third – Sebastian Naranja – MACC Racing

Master’s 40+ – 16 Racers

First – Michael Jones – Delaware Valley Racing

Second – Jame Carney – Piedmont

Third – John Davis – VeloBrew

Men Category 2/3 – 27 Racers

First – Jonathan Hauck

Second – Julien Ruhe – DDP Elite Cycling

Third – Brian Musum – MACC Racing

Women’s Pro – 46 Racers

First – Samantha Schneider – Legion

Second – Matilda Raynolds

Third – Yarley Salazar – Legion

Men’s Pro – 144 Racers

First – Brendan RHIM – ACG (Winner Pictured with Sadd)

Second – Ty Magner – L39ION of Los Angeles

Third – Evan McQuirk – ButcherBox Cycling

RETIREMENT

‘Glowing’ With Health

Light Up The Corners returns for a 10th year of fun and fitness at The Forum.

By Arlinda Smith Broady

Keeping fit doesn’t have to be a chore. It can be a fun group activity. To drive this point home, Light Up The Corners began a decade ago as a fundraiser for the Robert D. Fowler YMCA, but also as a way to celebrate fitness and fun. This year the night race will take place Saturday, August 12 at The Forum.

“Each year this race has grown. We’ve had more participants, volunteers, spectators each year,” said Amy Massey, race coordinator. “It’s a labor of love for myself and our volunteer committee. It’s a 501c3, but it’s run entirely by volunteers who love running and who love our community and love the YMCA.”

Massey served on the Fowler board for about 10 years. When her term expired, she was looking for ways to continue to raise money for the programs that she found so impactful and important for the kids, teens and families in the community.

The event is geared to raise funds for a specific campaign at the Fowler Y called “Why It Matters.” The entire YMCA structure in metro Atlanta awards more than 36,000 scholarships that give kids and families the opportunity to experience great programs and services.

“The YMCA provides hunger relief through the backpack program, water safety training so kids can learn to swim. And something that’s near and dear to my heart is the leadership and civic responsibility training that they do for teens,” Massey said.

“It takes Pinckneyville and Summerour teens and really creates leaders out of them. I’ve seen myself the impact that they’ve had when they come back around. They stay involved, they want to give back to the YMCA and pay it forward,” she added.

A running start

Massey said she got together with some of her running buddies, and they started the race. “The first year was a morning race and we had maybe 200 people or 150 people,” she explained. “We decided we wanted to try to do something different because in Atlanta on any

given weekend, you’re competing with so many different 5Ks.”

So Light Up The Corners was born.

Organizers describe it as “a glowing, flashing, blinking, shining nighttime running party and fundraiser in one.” All proceeds from the event go to benefit less fortunate children and families in the community by giving them the chance to participate in life-enhancing programs and activities at the Fowler YMCA.

The first actual “glow run” at night was sponsored by The Forum, which was also the venue, and the City of Peachtree Corners came on board as a title sponsor. That was right around the time when Peachtree Corners was becoming a city.

And it really is a community event.

Glowing together

Light Up The Corners is actually two events — the 4 Mile Run and Twilight Trot, 1K (6/10 mile) that is a one-of-a-kind nighttime experience. It’s less about how fast you run or walk and more about much fun you have.

The course will be lined with blinking lights to illuminate the way and participants will be given glow sticks, a glow necklace and other glow bling to light up the course as they run and/or walk, according to the event website.

“The experience is just super fun and exciting,” said Massey. “We will have fire spinners, entertainers, jugglers, face painters, a professional DJ and food before and after the race. The Forum really puts on a fabulous event.”

She described it as kind of a dance party with anywhere from

20 to 35 sponsors promoting health, fitness and wellness. There will also be contests for the “glowiest” men, women, boys, girls and teams. Participants are encouraged to strap on as much

glowing bling as they can find and light up the course.

Massey encouraged everyone to experience the community spirit and family fun atmosphere.

“It is just so fun to see the community come together. People of all ages, all walks of life get together for a very family friendly health focused, exciting Peachtree Corners tradition,” she said.

And it’s for a fabulous cause, she stressed. “The focus this year is even more health and family focused. We’ve got a lot of schools participating and our goal is to get the greatest number of students out and running and participating.” ■

Memorializing a Leader, Continuing with Progress

The Forum dedicates an area to Debbie Mason and breaks ground on upgrades.

Mother Nature couldn’t decide between rain or warm temperatures for the groundbreaking ceremony on May 27 at The Forum, so there was a little of both. But that didn’t dampen enthusiasm for the dedication of memorial bench in memory of Peachtree Corners

First Lady Debbie Mason.

Surrounded by her favorite flowers, the fixture reminds patrons of the love Mason had for her community.

By Arlinda Smith Broady

Debbie Mason died in January after a long bout with cancer. She wasn’t just the city’s first First Lady, she was its only First Lady. She was also a champion of the city who fought for cityhood more than a decade ago.

Tim Perry, managing partner at North American Properties (NAP), owner of The Forum, recalled interactions with Debbie Mason.

After being introduced, Perry said she “hit us up to help sponsor the Glow Run,” an annual night race that raises funds for the Robert D. Fowler YMCA.

“She was an inspiration and

Photos by Tracey Rice and Bruce Johnson

the short period of time we got to spend with her was really just amazing,” said Perry. “We reached out we found out her favorite flowers and wanted, as we entered our first real spring, for them to bloom in her honor.”

Mayor Mike Mason kept his remarks brief. “You guys are great to do this. You’re right. To be loved by family friends was who she was. …These kinds of things are important, and I appreciate it very much,” he said.

Progressing ahead

That same evening, there was a formal groundbreaking for the changes that will make the massive retail space a gathering place for friends and families as well as a town center for the decade-old municipality.

“This was a lot of work getting here and I just want to thank the mayor personally for all of the work,” said Perry.

“I see a lot of young people, but I

see enough gray hair …you remember, as I do, when this whole area here was on a decline. The difference that The Forum has made to the community has been remarkable,” said Mayor Mason.

“It’s a half a million square feet of retail, bricks and mortar. I know that’s a very old-fashioned concept in the age of ordering what you want online, but the importance of it is not just to the city,” he added. ‘It was everybody’s favorite place to congregate to shop.”

Mason recalled when Peachtree Corners was known as the city where The Forum was located. “It was a remarkable thing for us to be defined by that,” he said. “Then along came online shopping and when the vacancy rate started climbing, we knew …something had to be done.”

The city started looking for a partner to help revive The Forum. “When we found North American Properties and we listened to their proposal, we knew that was

the partner to work with,” Mason added. “They have a reputation for being a part of the community where they live.”

What’s to come?

According to media reports, improvements have already begun on the 21-year-old lifestyle center. NAP has already worked on improving its software, implementing new daily processes such as pressure washing and street sweeping, increasing security and housekeeping coverage, executing a comprehensive rebrand and rolling out the property’s first full calendar of events.

The next phase of construction is set to focus on modernizing and transforming The Forum into a true mixed-use destination with the addition of a 125-room boutique hotel, 381 multifamily rental units, new experiential retail and dining offerings, structured parking and expanded public spaces.

NAP officials said it will also include its signature hospitality-driv-

en management approach into the project, incorporating resort-level services such as concierge and valet to enhance the overall guest experience. Retail- and pedestrian-focused upgrades are scheduled to come first. An exact date of completion hasn’t been announced.

“You’re going to start seeing gathering space at The Forum,” said Perry. “There will be places for you to hang out after you’ve got a bite to eat here or visited the bookstore, or whatever. We’re going to finally have an area that gives visitors a reason to stay here, with great amenities.”

Before the NAP officials and city dignitaries headed out to turn some soil, Perry ended by saying, “We look forward to doing what we can to make sure that the Forum returns to its place as a trend-setting mixed use development. …We don’t just build buildings; we also build communities.” ■

Opposite page, From left to right, City Council members Joe Sawyer, Phil Sadd, Weare Gratwick, Tim Perry (managing partner at North American Properties), Mayor Mike Mason, City Coucnilmember Eric Christ, City Manager Brian Johnson and City Councilmember Alex Wright This page additional pictures from the groundbreaking event.

Mayor Mike Mason standing by the dedicated memorial bench for his wife Debbie Mason.

Another Big Night for Education

Norcross High School Foundation’s annual gala surpasses the previous year’s fundraising.

In continuing its mission to ensure the success of all students at Norcross High School (NHS) by building community support and by raising funds to cultivate excellence in academics, arts and athletics, the Norcross High School Foundation for Excellence (NHSFE) topped its previous record.

This year, the foundation raised nearly $113,000 to help bridge the gap between state and county funding and play a pivotal role in generating the funds and resources necessary to provide the level of excellence and education desired for all students at NHS. Last year, NHSFE raised $110,000.

“Our auction this year did better than it did last year. And last year was the highest year we had had to date,” said Co-president Tiffany Ellner.

As one of the largest schools in

By Arlinda Smith Broady Photos by Kent Ruby

Georgia, NHS has a diverse student body and a wide range of programs. As just about any parent can attest, tax dollars only go so far, and often public schools need extra funding to provide top-notch opportunities. That’s why the foundation was started more than two decades ago.

In addition to donations from local governments, businesses and residents, the gala is the main fundraising for the nonprofit. The board is made up solely of volunteers and all money raised goes toward education.

Cash for bricks

Wish bricks, which are requests submitted by teachers for unfunded items that aid in education, went on sale two weeks before the

gala took place and remain eligible for purchase for a week following the gala.

“Parents of rising freshmen aren’t familiar with the process, and often they come to the gala to get a feel for the Norcross family and see what we do,” said Ellner. “And sometimes people get so caught up in the party atmosphere that they don’t get around to donating what they’d like to.”

She added that every year there are quite a few people who end up purchasing bricks after the celebration. By the same token, others know they want to focus on the event, so they buy their bricks early.

“We sold over $3,000 in bricks the week following the gala,” she said. “And people who have been a part of the foundation for a long time — also known as challengers — tend to purchase their bricks

early beforehand.”

The foundation often picks a large project to donate a lion’s share of the proceeds to, and this year it will pay for a new sign in front of the school. There’s no completion date set, but Ellner said they want to have some sort of ribbon cutting celebration to introduce it to the community.

Money rolls in for auction items

Some big-ticket auction items at the gala included vacations and a barrel of high-end bourbon. “There was one special bottle called ‘Whistlepig’ that came in this beautiful wooden box,” said Ellner. “I don’t know a lot about bourbon, but it was a popular item.”

Perhaps the most coveted package was a collection of NHS swag created by students for the school store.

“It had the most bids and people

were fighting for it most all night,” said Ellner. “It had this great sweatshirt blanket and a little car flag, a picture frame with the logo, a little tote bag and some pom poms. That was a big winner in the silent auction category.”

To help increase the money raised, the foundation offered a new way to give. “One of the things that we’ve started is that we offer creative bricks,” said Ellner. “If you have a teacher and you really want to fund something in their classroom, like graphing calculators for the math teacher, you can create a brick and you can donate for the teacher.”

There is no set amount for the creative bricks. This year they alone raised $7,785.

“We had a lot of generous people who wanted to donate their money,” said Ellner. “We’re so blessed to be part of such a giving community.” ■

1. Jed and Carrie DeLong, Dr. Phyllis Gerard, Mr. Lee Newman

2. Jane Mills, Carrie and Jed DeLong, Remi DeLong (Norcross alumnus)

3. City of Norcross mayor Craig Newton with NHSFE Challenger Maureen McIvor

4. Jeff Robinson with Peachtree Corners City Council Member and NHSFE Challenger Phil Sadd and his wife Stephanie along with NHSFE Challenger Maureen McIvor

5. Mr. and Mrs. Lee Newman with NHS band parents

6. Peachtree Corners City Council Member Joe Sawyer and wife Kimberly

7. NHSFE Board Member and Challenger Kevin Hallam and wife Lisa with fellow Challengers Kim and William Hartselle

8. Chris and Leigh Anne Holden with NHSFE Co-President and Challenger Erin Griffin and husband Mike

9. Dr. Phyllis Gerard with Norcross High School Counseling Department

10. State House Representative and NHSFE Challenger Scott Hilton and his wife Meredith along with NHSFE Challengers Paul and Elizabeth Gross, Jenny and Bob Chapin

11. Jennifer Isaacson, NHSFE Co-President and Challenger Tiffany Ellner and husband David with Paul Isaacson

12. Auctioneer Sergeant Buffington with NHSFE Chairperson and Challenger Leah Bilz

Pitch Perfect

Pinckneyville Middle School recently broke ground on a new soccer field.

What do you give a team that has won seven straight championships?

If you’re Pinckneyville Middle School, you build a new soccer field — well, not really.

Although the girls’ soccer team has been undefeated for seven years in a row, the soccer field is to benefit everyone at the school, as well as the community — as long as they treat it well.

With thanks to City of Peachtree

Corners funds, as well as support from Gwinnett County Public Schools, school district administrators and city, county and state elected officials gathered on May 5 to celebrate the beautiful new grounds.

Principal Todd Marschke reflected upon the events that lead up to the field coming to fruition.

“It just feels so blessed to be the principal here at Pinckneyville. And I feel blessed to be able to live in a community like Peachtree

By Arlinda Smith Broady

Photos by Tracey Rice

Corners,” Marschke said.

He said that a couple of years ago, he had a parent reach out say, ‘I want to help you.’ Marschke said that because many of the needs are met by the school district and the community, he had to give a lot of thought to finding something for people who wanted to give more.

“It was a hard question to answer and that’s a good problem to have,” he stressed. “We got together and brainstormed some ideas, and we knew what we wanted. But financial is always something you’ve got to overcome.”

Benefits to local schools also benefit the city

It turned out that Peachtree Corners City Manager Brian Johnson had funds that could go into the project.

“Communities are only an

aggregate of individual pieces. And schools are one of the most critical ones. The healthier our schools are, the healthier our community is,” Johnson said. “And when a school has great facilities to allow for a diversity of activities, …everybody benefits,” said Johnson. “This is just strengthening the fabric of a community by giving our middle school better facilities. So, we all win.”

This type of “economic development” has already taken place at the two elementary schools inside city limits, Johnson added. Most recently, Simpson Elementary used city funds to redo the track and upgrade the play area. Peachtree Elementary had a big outdoor area with a basketball court.

Since the three schools are with-

in Peachtree Corners city limits, the city was happy to give something so meaningful and useful to the residents, he said.

Community takes care of

its

own

The city’s funding was just the beginning. “We’ve had an anonymous donor from the community who gave over $207,000. I don’t know who that person is [but the money will be used] to add lights to the field,” said Marschke.

And the Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) donated $17,000 to go toward a scoreboard.

“Debbie, my wife, and I and my family have been here since 1985,” said Mayor Mike Mason. “I can remember coaching teams, right on this field, walking around the

track. So it was with great pleasure that we were able to do this, because we knew firsthand you guys would really benefit from having this.”

“Let’s promise you can always count on the City of Peachtree corners to be there for you to help you and provide this kind of level quality for the future,” Mason added. “You guys deserve this. The kids and parents also deserve this.”

Once the ribbon was cut, the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams matched up for a scrimmage game. Who knows? When all the improvements are made, the pitch may become the proving ground for some of the sport’s greatest players. The seeds have now been planted. ■

Middle

Stephanie Sadd presents Pincipal Todd Marschke with a check from the PTA for $17,224 to allow the school to buy a scoreboard for the new soccer field.

Some of the soccer team players and coach Sara Sanders getting ready to play the first game on the new field.

Bottom row from left, Peachtree Corners Mayor Mike Mason holds the Community Service Award presented to the City by the Principal of Pinckneyville Middle School in appreciation for the City’s support and sponsorship of the new soccer field. L to R: Principal Todd Marschke, Mayor Mike Mason, Dr. Mary Kay Murphy (Gwinnett County Public Schools Board Member), Councilman Phil Sadd, and Mayor Pro Tem Weare Gratwick.

Rep. Scott Hilton enjoys the game with others in attendance.

Dr. Reuben Gresham, Gwinnett County Public Schools Cluster Superintendent.

Opposite page, Principal Todd Marschke and Mayor Mike Mason

Top row, boys and girls soccer team members checking out the field.

row from left, Mayor Mike Mason gets ready to cut the ribbon for the new soccer field with Rep. Scott Hilton, Councilman Phil Sadd, Principal Todd Marschke, Dr. Mary Kay Murphy, and Mayor Pro Tem Weare Gratwick. Members of the soccer team look on.

It Takes a Community

Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries shows how local nonprofits work together to better the lives of at-risk families.

Afew years ago, Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries (NCM) acquired a complex to further the mission of helping neighbors who sincerely want to break their cycle of poverty and regain financial independence. To remind the community of its expanded facilities and partnerships with other nonprofits, NCM invited the community to an event called Tacos + Tours.

Stakeholders were informed about ways they could continue their support while munching on tantalizing Latin cuisine. Afterwards, guests were shown the improvements and processes NCM has devised to help those in need. Ryan Jones, director of community development, kicked off things by explaining why he retired from his career in banking to begin the journey of helping improve the lives of people who were hungry, homeless, jobless and lacking some of

By Arlinda Smith Broady Photos by George Hunter

life’s basic necessities.

“I realized today that it’s my twoyear anniversary here,” he said. “The man is in the room who, kind of, led me on the journey to retire as a banker.”

He motioned to Randy Redner, who had been the president of the Community Foundation at the time and now is working at Rainbow Village.

“One of the things that stood out to me as I was doing my discernment and making my career change was ‘where could I make the most impact?’” said Jones.

He shared statistics about the pockets of poverty in the community. Then the various partners talked about how they work together to improve the lives of at-risk families in Gwinnett County.

Community helping community

“We’re now a county of more than a million people. We expect to

have another 500,000 in the next 20 years,” said Jones. “The poverty rate has doubled, and the vast majority of that poverty is right here in our surrounding area.”

According to the United Way’s child well-being index, 45% of southwest Gwinnett’s children are living below the poverty line. That adds up to more than 11,000 kids

Lack of affordable housing is also a big issue in this area. “A lot of times, we have families that are living in extended stay hotels and paying more money to live there than I pay for my house,” said Jones. “What these families are facing, a

Ryan Jones

Randy Redner

Jenny Ortega

Rachel Mannino

Luisa Beeco

The Right Buyer When Selling Your Small Business

lot of times, is a cycle of poverty

They’re forced to make choices between their basic needs. ‘Am I going to feed my kids healthy food or am I going to pay for transportation to get to work? Am I going to pay for my medical bills?’”

Finding the right buyer for your business goes beyond getting the highest offer possible. As a seller, you’re looking for the most qualified buyer that best aligns with your values. Add value to your company and contribute to the continued success of your business by balancing these goals.

#1

#2

#3 #4

Create An Ideal Buyer Persona – When it comes to selling your business, you’re looking for your ideal candidate. Be flexible although it is important to consider what type of buyer your company can best support.

Understand the Different Types of Buyers - Selling your business comes down to a basic fundamental: getting to know your target audience. People buy businesses for different reasons. Their motive behind purchasing will affect how you reach them.

Appeal to Your Potential Buyers - Prepare your business for showing – make sure everything is in its best shape before approaching prospects. This includes getting your books and financials in order, too!

List Your Sale with A Business Broker - A broker helps you save time. They identify the right match for your business and ensure you’re only dealing with qualified prospects. All while maintaining your anonymity.

ANN BARHAM ABarham@tworld.com

Jones added that this cycle of poverty creates low grades in school, high unemployment rates and many other negative effects.

Even though the area boasts some of the toniest homes, high incomes and high levels of education, there are pockets of poverty similar to those near Clarkson, where refugees are given solace, or west of Mercedes Benz Stadium, where homelessness and addiction are high.

Better Work Gwinnett

Luisa Beeco, a program manager for Better Work Gwinnett, part of the Georgia Center for Opportunity, (GCO) explained that GCO focuses on family work and education.

Once the applicant signs up, Better Work has a 30- to 60-minute conversation to understand where they fit in the work world. They assess the barriers to work — transportation, childcare, etc. Instead of creating more programs, Better Work connects clients to existing resources such GED classes and English language classes.

Next Generation Focus

Rachel Mannino, a recent UGA grad, is one of the after-school program directors of Next Generation Focus, a nonprofit afterschool program that meets Monday through Thursday, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Norcross First United Methodist Church.

KARL BARHAM KBarham@tworld.com

At Transworld, we’ll advertise your business to a worldwide network of buyers who are either interested in growing through acquisition or are searching for their next opportunity. To learn how Transworld Business Advisors can offer you sound advice and insight into selling your business, schedule a consultation today by giving us a call at 770-766-9855 or email atlantapeachtree@tworld.com today!

“Our goal is removing barriers, and we do it in many ways so that every person, no matter their race, past mistakes or the circumstances of their birth, can have access to quality education, fulfilling work and a healthy family life,” she said. “We have people who are working on research and policy and working on trying to keep families together.”

One way to keep families together is by making sure the adults have jobs. That’s where the Better Work program comes in.

“It’s not like a staffing agency — it’s different,” she said. “I would call it a referral program.”

Better Work has partnered with multiple employers in the area that have agreed to reach out to job candidates within 3 business days for an interview or a conversation to be able to go through their process.

“We have people go through our portal. It takes five minutes. They can do it on their phone,” said

“We also have locations at Discovery High School and Summerour Middle School, and we also meet virtually,” she said. “We provide out of school tutoring for our youngest scholars. That provides year-round academic support, enrichment activities, character education and life skills development for under-resourced and vulnerable youth and their families.”

She explained that since its inception, the mission has been to provide high quality educational and developmental opportunities to impact underserved communities. Students from kindergarten through 12th grade receive assistance in all subjects, including English language classes. There are even English language classes for parents.

Rainbow Village

Rainbow Village is the largest transitional housing nonprofit in Gwinnett County. It was founded by Christ Church in 1991 and used to be a bunch of scattered homes. It is now a 2.5 acre campus in Duluth.

“We can handle 30 homeless fami-

Becco.

lies at a time. Those families can stay with us for up to two years. We are not a quick fix program,” said Redner. “This is not a rapid rehousing program, because that just keeps rehousing them again and again. That doesn’t really help families.”

Redner explained that Rainbow Village is working to expanding so it can help more than 30 families at a time. “We have over 2,000 homeless kids in our school system,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do and we’re working hard to expand.”

He said that when he was the CEO of the Community Foundation, he saw that there are six great cooperative ministries across the county that were created 30 years ago by very future thinking leaders.

“When you add all those cooperative ministries together, we see 100,000 people a year; 10% of our population will go through our cooperative ministry,” Redner said. Rainbow Village sees a 90% success rate in helping families break the cycle of poverty. So, the charities started a pilot program in January where one or two social workers were embedded at other nonprofit organizations.

“We’re working side by side to take a look at that and learn how nonprofits can work closer together,” said Redner.

The NCM tour

Intake at NCM begins in the front lobby where clients are screened to make sure they are eligible for services. “Here they tell a little bit of their story, their background, a little bit of what’s going on,” said Jenny Ortega of NCM.

After being processed, they meet with caseworkers. “Once they come back to us, the options include clothing, food, hotel, rent and utilities,” added Ortega.

The complex also has space for those who just need a little extra help, such as once-a-month food distribution to stretch the grocery budget or clothes for back to school or job interviews, as well as assistance with utilities or finding work.

“We talk to them about all the various different ministries that we have here,” said Ortega. “It’s not just financial; there are also spiritual ministries,” she said.

And there are English classes and healthcare sessions where clients can get blood pressure checks and talk to someone about medical assistance and/or prescriptions assistance.

During COVID, NCM offered a drive-through pantry, but now clients can enter the expanded food facility with more space for cold and frozen foods. Healthy snacks are offered during tutoring sessions.

The changes at NCM are focused on helping families become independent and stand on their own. With the newly formed partnerships, all involved pray that the years ahead see more at-risk families becoming stable and able to give back to the organizations so they can help other families. ■

Local Restaurant Group Grows Concepts

Owners of Pêche Modern Coastal and Stäge Kitchen & Bar aim to cover the area with varied cuisine.

The vision, passion and creativity behind Pêche Modern Coastal at The Forum comes from a love of food, good service and, collectively, decades of experience.

Owners Tola Mak , creative director of marketing; Charlie Sunyapong, corporate executive chef; and Raquel Stalcup , director of operations, put their

knowledge and acquired skills into varied and interesting food offerings throughout the area.

Besides the high-end seafood restaurant, they are also the force behind nearby Stäge Kitchen & Bar, another local favorite.

Stäge is focused on tapas and sushi as well as fresh pasta, steaks and seafood. “It’s driven by local and seasonal items, so

By Arlinda Smith Broady Photos by George Hunter

[the menu] changes to incorporate fresh ingredients,” said Mak.

Although Pêche emphasizes fish and seafood offerings, they try to have something for everyone.

“We use lots of classic French techniques in our cooking styles, but with a modern twist,” said Sunyapong. “We’ve also got a raw bar offering, something no one else in the area really had.”

With an eye to freshness and authenticity, there’s no freezer in the Pêche. Fresh ingredients are delivered four times a week.

Even though the restaurant strives to stay true to the vision of the chef, the kitchen is flexible when it comes to dietary restrictions, allergies and just plain preferences. “We have vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free,” said Stalcup. “If it’s not on the menu, the chef

will make something special.”

Three paths come together

“I have had a love for food since I was young,” said Sunyapong. He was in one of the early classes of the now-shuttered Culinary Institute of America in Tucker. He took a hiatus for about a decade and focused on the beauty industry. But his first love called him back.

He then opened a restaurant in the Parkside district in 2017. Shortly afterward, he teamed up with long-time friends who’d had similar dreams. “We’d been talking about doing this for like 20 years,” he said. “Then once we opened one restaurant together, we just kept going.”

Mak grew up cooking with his parents and grandparents. “They

Opposite page, Raquel Stalcup, Charlie Sunyapong, Natalie Young, Tola Mak Brian Thomas, GM in the wine cellar

This page, top row, the entrance way to Peche Vereak Chhun, executive chef, Brian Thomas, Michael Real

Middle row, Diver Scallops (Saffron Risotto, Spring Succotash, Granny Smith Apple, Apple Air, Pea Puree, Pea Tendrils)

The dining area

Bottom row, the outdoor patio

Secluded dining area

worked in hotels and restaurants. Since I could probably walk, I was in a kitchen, just doing little things,” Mak said.

His grandparents owned a bakery in Thailand. When his parents immigrated to the U.S., they opened a Thai restaurant in Norcross.

After a childhood around the food industry, Mak also went to culinary school. He took the corporate route and worked in several hotels throughout the metro area.

“I worked for Marriott, Renaissance, the Marquee,” he said. He said that the last thing a corporate executive chef got to do was cook.

“You’re not allowed in the kitchen,” Mak said. “Most hotel chefs are in the office. You’re just managing the staff and the numbers. You’re not really allowed to be that creative, so I opened my own restaurant.”

StaIcup grew up in Hawaii. Her family had some restaurants in hotels, and she grew up working alongside them. The family moved to Atlanta when she was 15 and she started working at local restaurants. That’s when Stalcup met Sunyapong and Mak.

She worked for Buckhead Life Restaurant Group and Here to Serve Restaurant Group for 15 years, bartending and managing the different concepts. “I moved to

Johns Creek / Peachtree Corners

20 years ago, managing at Stoney River, and I was the general manager at Cabernet Steakhouse in Alpharetta,” she said.

Although they traveled different paths, the three friends ended up at the same conclusion. “With so much experience in different areas of restaurants and all of us with the cooking background, we realized we can do this ourselves,” said Sunyapong. “So we opened La Belle Vie six years ago.”

They sold that restaurant and have formed their own restaurant group, Saltie Butter, in late 2020. “We have a really good owners’ group where everyone specializes in their area,” said Mak. “So we’ve been able to expand a lot faster.”

Bringing a variety of cuisine to the area

Besides Pêche and Stäge, the group is looking to open two more restaurants — one in Dunwoody, named Campus 244. While it will also concentrate on top-notch

cuisine and service, it won’t be like the previous two.

The group is building momentum and putting profits into new development. “I’m out to three times a week looking for locations and meeting with developers,” said Mak. “We’re talking about 10 restaurants in the next five years, so it’s more of a process. We go in and train and develop menus and then we kind of move on to the next project.”

Part of Saltie Butter’s focus has been on mentoring new chefs and restaurateurs to form the next successful generation. The group encourages the staff to grow, learn and bring their cultures and ideas into the mix.

“What we do is really try to grow a lot of the people within our group, and give them a shot,” said Sunyapong. “I think that gives us the opportunity to really expand and not just be a one trick pony. ■

Henri’s Bakery and Deli Celebrates Its Grand Opening

In May, Henri’s Bakery and Deli celebrated the grand opening of its newest location in Peachtree Corners, marking a new chapter in the story of this Atlanta-based institution. Since 1929, Henri’s has been synonymous with indulgent pastries, savory sandwiches, and scrumptious baked goods.

The addition of the Peachtree Corners location brings their irresistible offerings to an even wider audience. The event saw a great turnout, with customers eagerly lining up to taste Henri’s famous Po’ Boy sandwiches and European-style pastries, as shared on their Instagram page.

The grand opening featured an array of festivities, including live music, free samples, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony to inaugurate the new location officially.

Patrons savored Henri’s mouthwatering creations and were reminded of this family-owned bakery’s rich history and enduring legacy.

The launch of Henri’s Bakery in Peachtree Corners is a testament to the brand’s continued growth and popularity among generations of Atlantans. As they expand their footprint, they maintain their commitment to serving delectable, high-quality culinary delights that have made them a cherished part of Atlanta’s food scene for nearly a century.

Top, Steve Vastakis (Manager) with co-owner Ashlyn Greco. Middle row, Kim MacBain welcoming little ones to the grand opening. Steve Vastakis holding Ashlyn Greco.

Bottom row, The Henri Mascot with the children of the owners. The Campbells with their grandchildren and Henri Mascot.

Peachtree Corners Installs Little Free Library in Memorial to Benjamin “Lloyd” Cloer

to pursue his education at Georgia State University as a full-time student. In the fall of 2018, he entered the Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence (MSAI) program at the University of Georgia. In the fall of 2020, Benjamin was planning on attending Georgia Tech to pursue his Doctorate in Artificial Intelligence.

At 26 years old, a few weeks before he was to complete the requirements for his master’s degree in AI at UGA, Benjamin’s life was taken. Benjamin received his master’s degree in AI from UGA posthumously in May 2020.

Benjamin is described by those who knew him well as someone filled with compassion and caring for others. He had an innate empathic ability to feel when someone was in need. Many people have described him as being “an old soul.”

Friends of the Cloer family created an endowment, the Benjamin Lloyd Cloer Endowment for AI. Thanks to everyone who has or will donate, there will forever be a “Benjamin Lloyd Cloer Endowment for AI” at UGA. The endowment began offering grants in the fall of 2020 to students in financial need who are studying artificial intelligence. ■

On May 17, the City of Peachtree Corners installed a Memorial Children’s Little Free Library at the Town Green in the Children’s Corner. The little library was donated by Steve Cloer on behalf of his son, Benjamin “Lloyd” Cloer. The little free library encourages kids to take a book and leave a book to encourage increased literacy and the love of reading. The library was paid for with funds Benjamin had acquired during his lifetime and was designed and built by Benjamin’s father. It will be registered as an official Little Free Library (littlefreelibrary.org) and will be part of a program that provides over 150,000 libraries in more than 120 countries.

Benjamin, a Norcross High School (NHS) graduate in 2011, lost his life in an act of senseless gun violence on November 10, 2019. While at NHS, Benjamin was an Honor Student, President of the Science Club, Co-Founder and Co-President of the Philosophy Guild, a member of the Math Team and a violinist in the Orchestra. He earned numerous academic awards and achieved an SAT score that put him in the top 2% of stu-

dents in the nation.

Following high school, Benjamin was awarded an academic scholarship to attend Pomona College in Claremont, Cal. In 2015, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience with a minor in mathematics.

After completing his undergraduate degree, Benjamin continued

Steve Cloer standing by the little free library, holding a photo of his son Benjamin “Lloyd” Cloer.

Peachtree Corner’s Goal: The Best Streets, Sidewalks, and Multi-Use Trail System in Gwinnett County

Since the City was founded in 2012, Peachtree Corners has taken these goals very seriously: One, we want our citizens to be safe driving on the best streets in Gwinnett County, and two, we believe in having a walkable community. With this in mind, we have planned several projects for the creation of new sidewalks and multi-use trails.

To ensure that the City can provide the best streets for our residents, we have conducted a technical analysis of each street to prioritize the order in which those streets are resurfaced. State-of-theart imaging technology called Laser Crack Measurement is used to develop a Pavement Coefficient Index (PCI) for each street. Each neighborhood is given an average PCI for all its streets, and all neighborhoods are prioritized based on those averages. The City performed its most recent analysis in October of 2022.

In April of this year, the City began work on its scheduled 2023 Street Paving projects. The following neighborhoods are currently scheduled for paving in 2023.

■ Chattahoochee Station

■ River Valley Station

■ Spalding Hollow

■ Neely Meadows

■ Spalding Bluff

■ Holcomb Bridge Station

■ Spalding Chase

■ Peachtree Square Townhomes

These neighborhoods may not be paved in the order above, but Contractors will post signage in the specific neighborhoods before work begins.

In addition to roads, the City plans for the construction of more sidewalks and multi-use trails.

The location of new sidewalks and multi-use trails is based on the needs and gaps within our current network. We have been focusing on connections to businesses, schools, bus stops, and other public facilities as well as worn paths we have noticed throughout the city that show a clear need for sidewalks.

Below is the list of sidewalks that will be under construction this summer:

■ Woodhill Dr

■ Meadow Rue Dr

■ Parkway Lane

■ Jay Bird Alley

■ Green Pointe Parkway

■ The Corners Parkway

Additionally, we have several sidewalks that are currently under design:

■ Jay Bird Alley

■ SR 141/Peachtree Parkway

■ Jones Bridge Circle

Multi-Use Trails that are currently under construction are in Technology Park, at Town Center, and the Riverlands Path, located on East Jones Bridge Road and Medlock Bridge Road.

In the future, the City will work towards the design and construction of the following multi-use trails:

Burdell Branch: This portion of the system will connect Engineering Drive south to Woodhill Drive. An existing segment of Corners Connector currently ends at Engineering Drive and Peachtree Parkway in front of the Corners Fine Wine & Spirits and RaceTrac. This project will extend that trail infrastructure south to the Chick-fil-A area and its adjacent shopping centers.

Continued on page 66

Gwinnett County’s newest and largest city, Peachtree Corners, was founded July 1, 2012 and is located along the Chattahoochee River in the southwest corner of the county. The city is home to over 45,000 residents and 3,000 businesses.

Mike Mason, Mayor

Farrell Creek: Will consist of approximately 2.13 miles of 10’ to 12’ concrete multi-use trail. It is proposed to run from Peachtree Corners Circle west of Peachtree Parkway to Engineering Drive. This trail would run around two water features along Triangle Parkway and an additional water feature north of Engineering Drive.

Crooked Creek Trail North: Crooked Creek Trail North is composed of 7 segments totaling approximately 4.04 miles. The segment is planned to run along Crooked Creek from the area around Peachtree Corners Circle to Spalding Drive. In addition to the planned 7 segments, there is one alternative segment (.17 miles) that may be constructed as part of the project.

Crooked Creek Trail South: Crooked Creek Trail South is composed of 7 segments totaling approximately 2.95 miles. The segment is

planned to run from Peachtree Parkway West to Peachtree Corners Circle. It will be located along Holcomb Bridge Road from Peachtree Parkway to the intersection of Jimmy Carter Blvd. From that intersection, it will move along Crooked Creek to Peachtree Corners Circle.

That’s a brief update on the status of paving, sidewalks, and multiuse trails in the City. Although there will be some delays and inconvenience, please bear with us as we complete our current paving schedules. We want our citizens to be confident that we are making progress on our goal of having the best streets, sidewalks, and multiuse trails in Gwinnett County.

Stay safe, Mike Mason, Mayor

Blue-Green Algae: What You Need to Know

Overview

Toxic Blue-Green Algae, or Cyanobacteria, are microscopic organisms that naturally live in lakes and ponds. With a combination of warm weather, sunlight, and nutrients, still waters can produce large amounts of algae that can cover and discolor the water. Exposure to this type of algae can cause health issues in humans and animals when touched or ingested.

Dangers Associated

The main danger linked with blue-green algae is it can be toxic or deadly to animals when consumed in high concentrations. Dogs are more susceptible due to their tendency to play in and ingest water containing these algae. Animals could die within hours of exposure to bluegreen algae bloom. There is also no remedy for blue-green algae poison, so prevention is the most effective measure. The poison produced can cause rashes, cramps, nausea diarrhea, and liver problems in humans.

Signs that

your dog may have Blue-Green Algae Poisoning

Symptoms may show up between 20 minutes to 5 days after exposure

■ Vomiting or Diarrhea

■ Drooling

■ Disoriented or Weakness

■ Difficulty Breathing

■ Loss of consciousness

How to detect and avoid

■ If the water has a blue-green, yellow, white, or brown paint-like appearance

■ Looks like ‘Pea Soup’

■ If the water smells or tastes nauseating

■ Dogs are attracted to the smell and taste, so keep them leashed around detected waters

If you or your pet comes in contact

■ Rinse off your pet with clean water immediately

■ Do not let your pet lick their fur or paws

■ Call your veterinarian (If caught early enough, the vet can flush out most of the toxins)

■ Wear gloves to protect yourself and then wash yourself with soap and water

Additional information can be found at:

Pet Poison HotlineBlue-green Algae (Cyanobacteria)

Harmful Blue-Green Algae: Frequently Asked Questions

Cyanobacterial (Blue-Green Algal) Blooms: Tastes, Odors, and Toxins

Blue-Green Algae and Dogs: Symptoms and Prevention

City

of Peachtree Corners Begins 2023 Street Paving Projects

The City of Peachtree Corners has begun work on its scheduled 2023 Street Paving projects. The following neighborhoods are currently scheduled for paving.

■ Chattahoochee Station

■ River Valley Station

■ Spalding Hollow

■ Neely Meadows

■ Spalding Bluff

■ Holcomb Bridge Station

■ Spalding Chase

■ Peachtree Square Townhomes

These neighborhoods listed may not be paved in the order above, but prior to beginning a project, Contractors will post signage in the specific neighborhoods before work begins.

These projects are scheduled to last throughout the summer months.

We apologize for any inconvenience these projects may temporarily cause and appreciate your understanding as we work to improve our city streets.

Peachtree Corners Councilmember Eric Christ Completes Leadership Gwinnett Program

On May 6, Councilmember Eric Christ, who represents District 2 of the City of Peachtree Corners, graduated from the Leadership Gwinnett regional development program.

Councilmember Christ and 47 other members of the Leadership Gwinnett Class of 2023 completed a nine-month program of workshops, tours, and study groups on such topics as public education, infrastructure, healthcare, human services, and regional cooperation.

Since 1985, Leadership Gwinnett has been educating non-profit leaders, business executives, and elected officials about Gwinnett County with the goal of equipping them to make a difference in their community.

City Council,” said Councilmember Christ, “and it has strengthened my commitment to serve the residents of Peachtree Corners.”

Leadership Gwinnett’s vision is a thriving community sustained by an inclusive network of empowered leaders.

“The Leadership Gwinnett curriculum was an excellent complement to my experience on the

Tree Preservation, Management and Removal

Trees provide many direct and indirect benefits in the urban and suburban landscape. These benefits include environmental improvements, aesthetic enhancements, economic savings, and social health and well-being advancements. Trees provide shade and a place to play, peace of mind, and a sense of ownership and pride. It is vital that communities properly manage their trees to maximize these benefits.

Tree management can take on many forms, from property owner planting and maintenance to regulatory codes; and it takes the entire community to realize these benefits and put forth the effort to keep these magnificent living species as healthy as possible. Since trees in our forests are assets, just a

cooling costs can be significantly reduced when trees are properly located around buildings. Residential areas with trees typically command higher appraisal and sales values and city streets lined with trees tend to attract more businesses and shoppers.

The social and psychological benefits of trees are also numerous. People are generally drawn to areas that have trees and often the cultural heritage of trees goes back centuries and becomes a part of local area lore. Stress is reduced by trees and hospital recovery times and behavioral improvements in children are among the many benefits. Trees boost mental health, enhance community pride, and increase recreational opportunities.

city code. The purpose of the regulations is to preserve and enhance the natural environment through the protection and planting of trees and maintaining natural buffers and establishing planted buffers between dissimilar land uses and waterbodies.

A summary of the city’s tree and landscape rules can be found on

the City’s website at https://www. peachtreecornersga.gov/240.

This information includes tree preservation information, tree removal information, and tree management information. You can also find links to tree removal applications.

The City of Peachtree Corners and Curiosity Lab Partner with the Center of Innovation in Transport

small amount of knowledge can be important for generations of enjoyment. However, when not properly cared for and managed, trees can become liabilities.

The environmental benefits of trees are numerous. Trees can improve air quality, sequester carbon, conserve energy, and reduce stormwater runoff and erosion. Trees release oxygen through photosynthesis as well as collecting and filtering airborne pollutants. Trees reduce surrounding temperatures by providing shade and through transpiration, which releases over 95% of water back into the environment. Trees also provide food and cover for many types of wildlife, and the diversity of wildlife tends to increase in parks, greenbelts, and larger areas of contiguous forests.

The economic benefits of trees include reduced cooling expenses, increased property values, and attraction of residences and businesses to an area. Heating and

Trees in the City Trees play a large role in the City of Peachtree Corners and important rules, regulations, and policies have been put in place to ensure that current and future generations of residents and businesses can continue to enjoy these abundant benefits. The city regulates trees by requiring preservation, planting, and proper tree management on public and private properties. Both developing and existing properties have tree standards that must be met and maintained, or enforcement action could be initiated.

It is important to note that all property owners have a responsibility for managing trees. Get to know the different species on your property and learn a bit about common hazards, tree risk assessments, and the benefits of pruning to keep trees safe and healthy. Property owners are also responsible for removing dead or hazardous trees that could cause problems including power outages, property damage, and injury. Although we strive to preserve as many trees as possible, the city can provide guidance on risk assessments and the tree removal process, which in most cases requires a permit.

Most of the regulations regarding trees come from the city’s Buffer, Landscape, and Tree Ordinance which is found in Chapter 50 of the

The City of Peachtree Corners and Curiosity Lab are thrilled to partner with the Center of Innovation in Transport (CENIT), a public consortium managed between Barcelona Tech and the Regional Government of Catalonia. CENIT generates innovative solutions to city transport methods using big data and econometric analysis. Between our unique smart city technology and CENIT’s vast knowledge of the industry, our partnership will develop exciting solutions together, showcasing the development of the transportation industry worldwide.

Founded in 2001, CENIT developed within CIMNE, an engineering consortium founded in 1987 by the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC). The CENIT group works to bring sustainable, safe, and innovative transportation solutions to communities everywhere and acts as a think tank responding to mobility challenges worldwide. Like Curiosity Lab and Peachtree Corners, CENIT has similar goals to promote safety, comfort, and environmental sustainability through technology research and focuses on planning and designing transport systems. At Peachtree Corners, we’re always on the lookout for companies and startups who are in the business of making the world a better place, and with similar missions, this partnership was a perfect fit.

As a research center, the core of CENIT’s activity is to provide scientific rigor to current and future transportation and logistics challenges with an emphasis on investment and policies, application of technology, improvement of public transit, demand model -

ing, and urban mobility. The group routinely shares its research and technology findings with the public and business sectors and industry professionals seeking to learn the latest developments in transportation science.

“Through our partnership with CENIT, we can share our knowledge and development of cutting-edge mobility technology on an international stage, supporting smart-city initiatives around the world. We are delighted to work hands-on with CENIT to advance smart city development that could lead to breakthroughs in transportation and safety technology that will ultimately help safeguard and enrich people’s lives,” states Peachtree Corners City Manager, Brian Johnson.

The collaborative partnership aims to maximize the public benefits gained through the development of an interconnected, safe, and efficient smart city system. Sharing the research conducted by CENIT and Curiosity Lab with other institutions and municipalities allows for international cooperation across sustainability, mobility, technology, and quality of life societal goals.

At Peachtree Corners, we’re honored to promote the development, demonstration, and deployment of the latest technology for the purpose of increased safety and efficiency. Partnering with CENIT will enhance our mission, promoting the development of technology on a global stage. We look forward to collaborating with CENIT on our shared learnings and what this partnership will bring in the future.